We recently had the chance to connect with Mauricia Banks and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Mauricia , we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Making music again. It’s funny that I’ve spent years with melodies in my head, thinking, “Someday, I’ll pick this up again.” Life gets busy and responsibilities are heavy but that urge never really faded away. Even as everything else changed, the tug of a blank page or just the excitement of a half-formed song, always sat quietly in the back of my mind. Maybe it’s nostalgia, or just sheer stubborn hope, but the dream of creating music, that is my own, never went away.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Mauricia Banks, chef and proud owner of Mo’s Authentic Cooking. I was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, the home of jazz, bounce music, second line, essence fest, jazz fest, mardi gras, daiquiris, snow balls, hand grenades and grate food but after Hurricane Katrina turned my life upside down, I ended up in Houston, Texas in 2005. These days, I’m based in Katy, Texas, where I run a Creole and Cajun food business that brings the soul of New Orleans, right to your table. Maybe you’ll get to taste it yourself one day.
Starting this business was a leap of faith, literally. I’d always dreamed about working for myself. My husband and I had tossed around the idea of owning a restaurant for years, but nothing ever seemed certain. Five year’s ago, I prayed for some direction, hoping to figure out exactly what path I was supposed to take. Not long after, a former realtor, someone who knew I was out of work, in converse, reached out with a simple question: “What are you good at? Maybe I’ll come across an opportunity to present to you.”
I rattled off all the things I could do. Without missing a beat, she called me and said, “Why not turn one of those hobbies into a business? You’re already doing it every day. Why not become your own boss?” That was all the nudge I needed. I ran with it and now, here I am, telling my story in a magazine. Sometimes, all it takes is faith the size of a mustard seed and one perfectly timed conversation to set your dreams in motion.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
The relationship that has most shaped how I see myself is my relationship with God. It gives me a sense of purpose, grounds me in my values, and reminds me of who I am beyond my successes or failures. Through this relationship, I’ve learned to see myself with compassion and hope, and it continues to guide the way I navigate through this world.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
For years, my own shyness, self-doubt, and self-consciousness were the biggest anchors holding me back. My mind was constantly caught in a downward spiral of worrying about others’ judgments and opinions. But today, that chapter is closed. The fear of what people think simply doesn’t hold me captive anymore.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
That’s a funny question, but honestly, in a world full of people pretending to be something they’re not, it’s actually a really good one. The answer is yes, what you see is truly me. Every thought, every ability, every skill, and every word I speak reflects who I am authentically. Even the music I listen to is a genuine part of me. There’s no one in this world worth me changing myself for, just to fit in or meet someone else’s idea of who I should be. That would feel like a disgrace to me and, honestly, like spitting in God’s face and that’s the last thing I’d ever want to do. My only goal is to please Him.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
Am I living the life I was born to live, or the one I was told to live? Ironically, I’m doing neither. No one directed me to the kitchen; I chose to become a chef after seeking direction through prayer. It’s a skill I’ve developed and mastered, it’s a source of both comfort and stability. The truth is, my work as a chef is merely the gateway to my true divine alignment. Instead, I see it as the essential gateway into my divine purpose. My actual calling lives in a completely different space; it’s something that speaks directly to my spirit, not just to my skill set.”
