Today we’d like to introduce you to Deja Taylor.
Hi Deja, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always considered myself to have this special ability to be able to backtrack many stages of my life through food. My childhood was vivid, I was raised in a Jamaican household in the city of Philadelphia there was never a dull time or plate. My preteen years/middle school was my introduction to the beauty of both Habesha culture and Sudanese cuisine. Fast forward to my transition from the young adult to adult years, I like to think of this stage as my awakening and being introduced to my favorite dishes today like sushi and yebeg wot. This event was the stage I decided that it was all or nothing with food and I somehow ended up on a journey to travel the world plate by plate. I guess can’t really say that I chose food at any point, it always had a way of choosing me first.
My objective is to provide the ultimate culinary experience for each and every client using my fusion take on your favorite foods from around the world. Through private dinners, custom catering, and meal preparation I want to show that quality food served with a luxury experience is attainable for everyone. My next venture is to not only provide you with the service but also with the tools to create your favorite dishes from all over the world from your own home. Culinary Character will soon be launching our own line of gourmet spice blends that are free from salt, preservatives, and MSG, delicious and healthy for everyone to enjoy! No need to worry, we will be offering cooking classes both privately and in group settings to help you get started!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Starting my own business has been the most challenging decision of my professional career, it’s almost like you learn something just to find out it doesn’t fit your vision, and then you have to learn something different all over again. I would say that my biggest challenges came with trying to find my identity as a chef and how to market gourmet fusion cuisine. I loved food too much to limit the kind of food I wanted to offer. It was important for me that my clients experience food through my eyes but not in a way that was overwhelming or confusing. Because of this, I’ve personalized my booking process so that each menu is custom-made to fit your event and theme.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Culinary Character is a company that provides luxury culinary services. Our services include custom catering, private dining, and cooking lessons/classes. What sets us apart from other brands is that we provide a unique experience and menu for each different event to fit your vision. As a brand, I pride myself on both the quality, cleanliness, and presentation of each and every dish!
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
Covid-19 honestly pushed me as a creative more than any other time in my life, at the time I was still living in my hometown Philadelphia which is an oasis for any foodie. When lockdown occurred although I knew I would miss my favorite restaurants I knew that I could easily recreate my favorite meals. What I didn’t know is how much of a disadvantage it was for so many others, this was a turning point for my business. Good food isn’t a conditional pleasure, it’s a necessity that many people don’t think they have access to. I came up with my line of gourmet spice blends for your favorite dishes from around the world so you can skip the intimidation at the market, I began offering cooking lessons both virtual and in-person to walk you through the process, in the kitchen and I will soo offer the tools to contribute to your success in the kitchen. Initially, my dream for my business was to gain, covid-19 taught me that the bigger dream was to give back.
Contact Info:
- Email: culinarycharacters@gmail.com
- Website: www.culinarycharacter.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/culinarycharacter/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/culinarycharacter
