Today we’d like to introduce you to Shelby Dean.
Hi Shelby, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
It all started at the age of 21, I was working at my first bank job Prosperity bank. (I’ve always had a very strong passion for cooking since a little girl) I remember sitting at my desk daydreaming while saying to myself “If I ever had a business someday, I will name it Shelby’s Kitchen & Katering. At the age of 24, I stepped out on faith and begin selling $10 lunch plates to the surrounding areas of North Houston. My first menu was seafood pasta, side salad, and garlic bread; I sold over 50 plates that day. I cooked, prepared the plates, and did all of my deliveries all by myself. I did this weekly, and as time went on my name begin to grow within the Northside of Houston. My pasta became my hottest dish, it became so high in demand I then begin to sell it by the pan. 2 years later I then went back to work in Property management. I was now working full-time and catering small events on the weekends. For the next 2 ½ years I was still working full-time in property management, my catering career had started to boom. As time went on, I became burned out from doing both, and I then had to make a decision on if I wanted to pursue my catering career or continue working in property management. October of 2021, I decided to take a step out on faith and pursue my catering career for the 2nd time around. I figured since I was older, wiser, and more spiritually grounded, I can do it full-time, I met another successful entrepreneur who motivated me to quit, she gave me the courage to step out on faith and make it happen again. Making that move was the best move I could have ever made for myself. I have had the opportunity to cater for some super important events such as; Weddings, baby showers, corporate events, etc. We are always booked and busy. I stepped out on faith, and I am now walking in my purpose. This road is far from easy, but this journey is worth any obstacle thrown my way.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has definitely not been a smooth road lol. I actually quit my 9 to 5 to work harder lol. Some of the struggles along the ways was having to do it alone when people quit on you and most of all not knowing the unknown and just trusting the process.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Every dish that I am known for I have created with my own touch; that’s what sets me apart from the rest. Everything that I do from my displays to my recipes was first meditated in my brain, and then I just bought it to life. I’ve always been in competition with myself instead of others. I stay in my own lane and try to be the best version of myself, and that is what I am most proud of. My ability to be authentic and creative.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I’ve always loved to cook; I remember being in the kitchen with my mom preparing meals for our family at a super young age. I remember at the age of about 7, I use to sneak in the kitchen and cook lol. When I was 14 years old, I remember my mother contacted the flu the day before Thanksgiving causing her not to be able to cook for our traditional family Thanksgiving dinner. I went in that kitchen and prepared the entire Thanksgiving meal all by myself. I used the knowledge from what I was taught by my mother from previous years and went in for what I knew. In high school, I always cooked for my friends and their parents lol. I’ve always been a very loving person who found pleasure in catering and pleasing others before myself.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: shelbyskitchenkatering_llc
- Facebook: Shelbys kitchen katering
