Conversations with the Inspiring Zonya Dawson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Zonya Dawson.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Zonya. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was born and raised in Bangkok, Thailand and moved to Fort Collins, Colorado at about 14 years old where my mother opened an Asian grocery store and a Thai restaurant. I was always really resistant about learning how to cook, how to run a business and at that age and through High School and College, I always wanted a normal job to be a lawyer or a political scientist.

 My mom was really persistent on teaching us kids the art of entrepreneurship and how cooking healthy, delicious food for others is the ultimate form of love.

 As I started working different jobs having good bosses and bad ones, worked for great companies and some not so great ones the entrepreneurship fire set by my mother grew stronger and stronger inside.

Six years ago, my parents moved back to Thailand and I found that it was impossible to find good quality, truly authentic, tasty, Thai food outside of the home. I traveled throughout Colorado looking for it and when the task seemed impossible, I called my mom, wrote down every recipe and promised myself I would bring the home-cooked Thai goodness back to Colorado.

I knew I had to start my own business, I knew it had to have a greater purpose than making money and I knew it had to be surrounded by Thai food.

That was when saranyacooksthai was born. I now run a Denver based catering company providing truly authentic, high-quality Thai food anywhere you want it, in your home we provide private chef experiences, for your work we provide full-service catering and for fun, everything in between.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My biggest obstacle continues to be myself. Every time I get an order, I have to do a double-take and I tell myself its real. In most things in my life I am confident and assertive but for my own business, it sometimes can be difficult to believe I have something different to offer. I drive by 10 Thai restaurants in Denver I think, “well, here’s another one, what makes me different?” Then I am reminded of 2 things; 1. There are over 30 cereal options yet they all seem to be restocked every Sunday, there is plenty of room for you. 2. I am doing something different, I drive to markets all over the state, ensuring I get the right type of basil, and I splurge on the best fish sauce because that is the commitment I have made to my customers.

What should we know about Saranyacooksthai? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
At Saranyacooksthai we make a simple promise; to always provide high quality, truly authentic Thai food, like from your mother’s kitchen (if your mother was Thai and a really good cook). I specialized in 2 different types of services; 1. A private chef experience – I am in your home, cooking and serving traditional Thai dishes. Sharing stories, recipes, and tips about Thai food and Thailand. 2. Full-service catering – Authentic, traditional Thai dishes delivered to your workplace, home, or any location in the Denver metro area or Northern Colorado.

What really sets me apart is my commitment to being truly authentic and personalized. Authentic is a term thrown around a lot when it comes to food, and with my company, I take that word really seriously. Personalized is the way business is moving, people want an experience that is tailored to them where they feel special and unique.

Do you have any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general? What has worked well for you?
Don’t get pigeonholed into finding a mentor who has accomplished exactly what you want to accomplish. I do not have have a mentor who runs a successful food business. My mentors are fundraisers, career social workers, and executive directors. I went this route because I believe in diversity of work experience and transferable skills and because I not only want to own a successful catering business but I also want a business that is equitable, just and sustainable.

Pricing:

• Catering – Catering can range from $15 to $65 per person.
• Private Chef Experience – Dinners can range from $35 to $100 per person.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.saranyacooksthai.com
• Phone: 9704430991
• Email: saranyacooksthai@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saranyacooksthai
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saranyacooksthai

Image Credit:
Zonya Dawson

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