Today we’d like to introduce you to Sakinah Omari
Hi Sakinah, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
The Edgie Veggie came to be a little over three years ago, but my love for food and cooking has been here for as long as I can remember. As young as 6 or 7 years old, I’d be glued to the tv watching Food Network greats, like Emeril Lagasse, Sunny Anderson, and Rachael Ray. I would then take recipes I learned from those shows and cook them with my mom. She is so talented and effortless in the kitchen and taught me creativity and intuition when cooking. Food Network and my mom exposed me to so many different foods, flavors, and techniques that allowed my passion to continue to grow over the years.
My junior year of high school, I completed a culinary arts program at a local community college. That’s when I realized, my dream wasn’t to be a chef working at a high-end restaurant but rather to have my own business and cook on my own terms. My junior year of college, I started my journey as a vegan. As I neared the end of my college career, I started to think about what I could do with my love for food, cooking, and veganism along with a degree in Business Management.
In 2020, I moved to Houston. After years of living the fast-paced college life and eating at the dining hall on campus, I finally had the opportunity to awaken my years of dormancy in the kitchen and experiment with vegan cooking for the first time. I started to create vegan masterpieces and share them with neighbors, friends, and coworkers. After a year and a half of honing my skills and receiving nothing but positive feedback, I decided it was time for me to take a leap into business ownership. The Edgie Veggie was established in December 2021. My business started as just meal prepping for a few friends but grew into so much more in a few short years. I’ve been able to expand into catering, cooking demonstrations, food festivals, pop-up markets, holiday celebrations, business meetings, hosting my own events, and there’s still so much more to come.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Owning a business is not easy and the journey has definitely been a learning curve. It can be overwhelming having to “wear all the hats,” or run every aspect of the business– creating the product, marketing, accounting, sales, distribution, and the list goes on. However, every opportunity I’ve received for my business has taught me a valuable lesson in running a business. Whether it be a lesson in time management, effective communication, or just simply believing in myself and the quality of product I have to offer, each lesson has helped me elevate my business and who I am as an owner. Gaining confidence and resilience as a business owner, will always be worth the struggles I’ve encountered along the way.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
My business is The Edgie Veggie, and I’m a chef specializing in vegan meal prep and catering. This year you can expect to see me at more food festivals, markets, and pop-up events. I also plan to host my own events, like brunch and dinner parties, so there will be plenty of opportunities for folks to try my food and see what all the hype is about.
My food is unique in a number of ways. The flavors are unlike anything that most people have tried before, and this has come from vegans and non-vegans alike. The taste will leave you wanting more and wondering how it even can be vegan. I also focus on whole food, plant-based cooking. You can expect various fruits, veggies, grains, and legumes; low or no oil, salt, refined sugars, and white flours; or ultra-processed vegan alternatives in my food. During my vegan journey, I’ve learned and reaped the benefits of eating this way and I’ve been able to craft my food to taste delicious so others can reap the same benefits too. Although I’m a chef by trade, I’m a student and a teacher at heart, and I’m always interested in learning more about the vegan lifestyle and sharing what I’ve learned verbally, but also through my food. Some of my best dishes, and the ones that have had people raving and coming back for more are my lasagna, gumbo, and Rasta pasta. I’m also a baker and have made delicious cheesecakes, brownies, banana bread, and more. My vegan creations are truly endless when I get in the lab– my kitchen.
I’m very adventurous, knowledgeable, and talented in the kitchen, and can create just about anything a client request of me. Whether it be a birthday party, festival, or business meeting; breakfast, lunch, dinner, or dessert; or various global cuisines, I’m here to provide quality food and customer service for all who give me the opportunity to.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
I think business ownership is a journey, and all the mistakes and hiccups I experienced along the way shaped me into the business owner I am today and also placed me exactly on the path that was destined for me. However, if I had to share any advice, I’d say take it slow, lean on the folks around you for support, and don’t fall into the comparison trap.
Starting out, I really hit the ground running and when I plateaued or hit my first wall, I took it pretty harshly. Take your time and ease into your business. It’s not going anywhere, and you’ll really gain from all that you’ll learn along the way. I also had to learn how to ask for help. I have so many amazing friends, family, and people who care about me and want to see me succeed, and I had to learn how to speak up when I needed their help. It may feel unnatural at first, especially if you’re naturally inclined to independence or handling all your problems on your own. However, there’s so much power and trust that comes from asking for help and actually receiving it. Lastly, it’s harder said than done but try your best not to compare yourself to others, particularly on social media. Move on your own time and do what feels best to you, not what you think others are doing or achieving. Social media can truly be a dramatization, and you don’t want to get caught up in a world that isn’t even necessarily real. Remember to give yourself grace and that your only competition is you.
Pricing:
- 3 meal preps – $60
- 4 meal preps – $80
- 5 meal preps – $95
- 6 meal preps – $110
- 7 meal preps – $125
Contact Info:
- Website: https://edgieveggiefood.com
- Instagram: the.edgieveggie
