Today we’d like to introduce you to Malachi Davis.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My passion for cooking started at a young age while helping feed my family. I’m the second oldest of six children, so I learned early on how to be creative in the kitchen and make meals with whatever we had available. What began as cooking for my family eventually grew into a true passion and career path.
After high school, I attended culinary school and earned my certification. From there, I started at the very bottom of the industry washing dishes, but I was fascinated by everything happening behind the scenes in the kitchen. I took every opportunity to learn and grow, working my way up through several positions including prep cook, line cook, assistant sous chef, sous chef, executive sous chef, and eventually executive chef.
Those years gave me hands-on experience, discipline, and a deep appreciation for the culinary industry. After spending years learning every aspect of the business, I decided to take a leap of faith and start my own catering company, where I could combine my passion for food, creativity, and hospitality to serve others in a more personal way.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. I believe accomplishing your goals always comes with challenges, and my journey in the culinary industry has been no different.
As a Black man in this industry, there were times when I felt overlooked and underestimated. I spent quite a while stuck in a cook position because some people in leadership did not want to see me elevate. But I have always been a hard worker who refuses to give up easily. Instead of letting those challenges discourage me, I used them as motivation to work harder, learn more, and prove myself through consistency and dedication.
Throughout my career, I worked my way up by outworking many around me and taking every opportunity to grow my skills. I started in Phoenix, Arizona, then later moved to Austin, Texas. While Austin helped shape part of my journey, the opportunities there at the time were somewhat limited because it was a smaller market. Eventually, I moved to Houston, Texas, where more doors began to open for me professionally.
Along the way, I worked under many different chefs. Some were very strict and only trained me in specific areas, while others were willing to teach me the broader skills needed to eventually become an Executive Chef. I learned something from every experience, both good and bad, and all of it helped prepare me to eventually build my own catering business.
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?
Chef MD Catering is a full-service catering company built on passion, creativity, and genuine hospitality. We specialize in creating memorable culinary experiences for private events, corporate functions, weddings, community gatherings, meal prep services, and upscale catering experiences. Our goal is not just to serve food, but to create an experience that people remember long after the event is over.
What makes our company unique is that everything is rooted in scratch cooking, quality ingredients, and presentation. We believe food should not only taste amazing but also look amazing. Our menus are influenced by a blend of Southern, Southwestern, and comfort-style cuisine with elevated flavors and creative touches that reflect our personality as a brand.
One thing that truly sets us apart is our story and our hands-on approach. After spending decades working in kitchens and learning every level of the culinary industry, we built this business from the ground up with a strong work ethic and a commitment to excellence. We originally started as a home-based business and took a major leap of faith in May 2024 when we began searching for our own commercial space. In September 2024, we officially signed the lease for our building. The buildout process took approximately nine months, filled with patience, challenges, and perseverance, but in May 2025, we were finally able to walk into our very own catering kitchen. That moment represented years of hard work, sacrifice, and faith becoming reality.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud of how far we’ve come and the reputation we’ve built within the community. We started with a vision and a passion for serving people, and now we’ve had opportunities to cater corporate events, community events, weddings, private gatherings, and even expand into private jet catering. Seeing people trust us with their important moments means everything to us.
We want readers to know that Chef MD Catering is more than just a catering company. We are a family-driven business that leads with passion, professionalism, and heart. Whether it’s an intimate dinner, a large corporate event, weekly meal prep, or luxury catering, we strive to provide excellent service, unforgettable flavors, and an experience that reflects the love we put into our craft every day.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Absolutely. No successful journey happens alone, and I’ve been blessed to have people who believed in me, supported me, and pushed me to keep going throughout the years.
First, I have to give credit to my wife and family. Building a business requires sacrifice, long hours, and a lot of faith, and they have supported me every step of the way. My wife has been a major part of helping grow the business behind the scenes, helping manage operations, client communication, marketing, and making sure things continue moving forward. Having a strong support system at home has been invaluable.
I also have to acknowledge our Pastor, Joe Ogletree, and our church family at Image Church. Pastor Joe has been an incredible spiritual leader and source of encouragement throughout this journey. His guidance, prayers, and belief in our vision helped motivate us during both the exciting moments and the challenging seasons of building the business. Our church family has also shown tremendous love and support over the years, constantly encouraging us, referring us, supporting our events, and cheering us on as we’ve grown.
I’m also grateful for the chefs and mentors I worked under throughout my culinary career. While some challenged me in difficult ways, many of them helped sharpen my skills, discipline, creativity, and leadership in the kitchen. Every kitchen experience taught me something that I still carry with me today as a business owner and Executive Chef.
Our clients and community also deserve a tremendous amount of credit. Many of our opportunities have come through word-of-mouth referrals, repeat customers, and people who believed in our vision early on. Their continued support has helped our company grow year after year, and we never take that trust for granted.
Lastly, I’m thankful for our team members and everyone who has worked alongside us to help bring events to life. Catering is truly a team effort, and it takes dedicated people who care about service, presentation, and hospitality to create the experiences we provide. Every person who has supported, encouraged, referred, booked, or prayed for our business has played a role in our success story.
Pricing:
- Meal Prep Services: Starting at approximately $13–$16 per meal depending on the menu selection and protein choice.
- Corporate Boxed Lunches: Pricing varies based on menu selections, guest count, and service style.
- Full-Service Catering: Customized pricing based on guest count, menu design, staffing, rentals, and event needs
- Private Events & Weddings: Packages are tailored to each client to provide a personalized culinary experience.
- Private Jet Catering: Luxury catering options available with customized menus and upscale presentation.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.chefmdcaterings.com
- Instagram: @chefmdcatering
- Facebook: @ChefMDCatering
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chefmdcatering
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@chefmdcatering
- Other: TikTok: @chefmdcatering
