Not your typical Blog

And so it Begins....

Here I sit, 35 years old. I thought I was supposed to have it all figured out by now but I just got off the phone with my boss informing him of my resignation. Wait, What!?

Before I did it, I asked myself, "What the heck are you doing?" I am a successful brand builder and self-taught chef. I was running an established bar's newly constructed kitchen. We were in the process of pivoting into a profitable Bar & Grill. I was the grill part. It was a dream of an opportunity so what would make you throw all of that away?

Well in one word:

Not only faith in the Lord above but faith in what I know is inside of me. There is a different light I am meant to shed on food. I believe this is my true calling.

Let's talk about food for just a moment. Think of it as more than that backyard BBQ last summer where you killed your Auntie's Potato Salad or that tub of ice cream that's currently calling your name in the back of the freezer. Try thinking about it as a vital life force then suddenly that hot dog doesn't look quite as appetizing. Sucks Right! Seemingly, but it doesn't have to. Have no fear, there are so many ways to do this food thing! And that is exactly what I was created for. To share it with you. My passion for food started with just cooking but it has taken me on an unforeseen journey. I could never have imagined my life in food panning out like this. As my knowledge goes deeper, so does my understanding. There are things you should know and I am compelled to share!

Sounds crazy, I know but this wouldn't be my first leap of faith. In 2012 my dearly departed brother and I began a catering and carry-out delivery service business out of my kitchen. Just as a side hustle at first but, after his death in July of 2014 I got serious about growing the business. I felt I owed it to him. And grow I did. in 2016 I signed a lease to my 1st commercial space. 5500 square foot building, plus lot, fully furnished commercial kitchen! I was in heaven, until about 2 years later when I found myself, stressed, unhealthy, failing those I loved the most, and on the brink of death. It was then I took that same leap of faith. "This was not my vision," I kept repeating to myself when I chose to leave quietly and abruptly. I moved in the middle of the night for crying out loud! That was shamed mostly, because I felt I let down my entire city! They were with me from the start, from the house, to the shop, thru that awkward "she's got employee's now phase, to the end! I was mentally shattered! I remember this feeling and the circumstances where the same then as they are now. Growing the brand wasn't the problem, furthering the business was not the issue. The problem was ME! I wasn't being true to myself. I think about food in a different way. I have a different relationship with food which causes a different understanding. How can I cook what I know is not healthy for my patrons without proper knowledge! Is that fried chicken bad for you! No, not incrementally, but all the time.... It will kill you! I can not continue to serve people without sharing what I've learned along the journey. This will cause the menu to change, the conversation to change, the business to change. I can not do what I do not believe in. I couldn't then, and I can't now. This fueled my decision to leave my current position. Not because of the company, (actually the best place I've ever worked in my life,the owner became my mentor and the staff is DOPE), but because of my purpose in this life. As it is revealed to me I am forced to live it out loud. Anything less would make me a shell of myself. I refuse, my brother taught me life is too short for that.

So here I am again. Willing to risk it all for what I believe in. What's next? Well more food of course! But 'm taking it to another level! REAL Foodies ONLY! Since you made it here I would say.....pop some pop corn, grab your fuzzy blanket and settle in by subscribing. This blog will be where you get to hear it from the source, in my own words. I don't think I would ever let anyone write to you for me, and if you've gotten to know me at all through any of my social media channels you know.....This will be interesting!