Life and Work with Chef Bella B

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chef Bella B.

Chef Bella, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
When I was 16, I had ACL surgery and found myself stuck at home. I started playing around in the kitchen, playing with different recipes and cooking dinner for my brothers. I found that I had a love of cooking. I love to create and cooking is a great platform to not only experiment but also to express myself. When I graduated high school, I really didn’t know what I wanted to do, but I knew that I wanted cooking to be a part of my life. I decided to step out on a leap of faith and go to school for culinary arts.

I entered Le Cordon Bleu and felt that I had finally found something I could excel at. My cooking career started off slowly as I gave myself time to learn how to blend and fuse different types of foods and flavors. I wanted to start my own brand and bring joy to people. Food is a constant. It’s something we all have in common. It can bring people together.

Has it been a smooth road?
No, I am thankful that the road wasn’t smooth. It is from mistakes that we learn. I tried several times to come out with my brand, only to find myself doubting myself and my abilities. I was a new mom at a job that didn’t value me while scraping pennies to support my myself. I wasn’t happily working in someone else’s kitchen. All I knew is that I wanted to cook for people and bring them something special, but wasn’t sure how to go about it. Here I am a new mother wanting to pursue my passion but afraid to let my family, son and myself down with failure. I had to find the courage within myself, which isn’t always easy but is always possible. I dealt with fear and doubt. The fear of someone not liking my food was a big hurdle to overcome. The doubt that I am any good was yet another hurdle. But the thing about hurdles is they can be jumped over and even knocked over! When I booked my first job, I was nervous. I wanted everything to be perfect. I was aiming for perfection, but at the moment, I learned that perfection is subjective. I have learned, over time, that I can’t expect others to believe in me if I don’t believe in myself. You are your biggest critic and cheerleader all at the same time. Be kind to yourself, believe in your abilities and others will too. Keep trying don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t because you can. I am living proof that you can create something from nothing. Be your biggest fan, toot your horn, praise yourself. And most importantly do not stop. Fear is an illusion, it isn’t real but your dreams and goals are.

My first job cooking in a kitchen I realized that I wanted more. I decided to start my business. I just put myself out there. I wrestled again with doubt and fear, but with the support of my family, I started. It was scary, but a good scary. I decided I didn’t want to live with what-ifs, so I did.

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I provide several types of cooking services. I am a personal chef, caterer, meal prep, menu consultant, and cooking teacher. I’m best known for my personalized services for dinner parties, customized menus, and overall cooking professionalism. My belief is that cooking is the new sexy.

I’m proud that I have learned to fuse different types of foods and flavors. But what I am most proud of is the message my brand conveys, which is cooking is the new sexy, meaning cooking doesn’t have to be this boring task or chore! You can make cooking fun, informative, exciting and absolutely SEXY! My goal is to help people meet their culinary needs in a fun and fresh way, which isn’t always easy but is worth it in the end.

The thing that sets me apart from others is the love, gratitude, and respect that I have for the culinary arts. I love what I do and only want to spread love through the food I cook and lessons I teach. I love turning cooking into a fun exhilarating activity for those who find it a chore! I love giving my clients those “feel good” moments with presentation and delicious tasting food. I like to think of myself as the layman’s chef. Cooking doesn’t have to be complicated, cooking is something anyone can do. So, let’s cook together and let me show you cooking is the new and improved sexy!

There’s a wealth of academic research that suggests that a lack of mentors and networking opportunities for women has materially affected the number of women in leadership roles. Smart organizations and industry leaders are working to change this, but in the meantime, do you have any advice for finding a mentor and building a network?
Networking is so crucial to your business. First, be present! Use all the free social media platforms you can find. Stay consistent in your message. Attend networking events and be sure to carry plenty of business cards. Using platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Thumbtack and others have worked well for me. I always ask my customers if they are willing to provide a referral or testimonial. There are so many ways to put your brand and product out there. Invest in a website, this is another crucial tool for your business.

Come up with a 3-minute intro to for your business – an elevator pitch. Be ready to talk about your business to anyone and everyone.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.chefbellabkitchen.com
• Phone: 720-815-6710
• Email: Chefbellab@gmail.com
• Instagram: @chefbellab

Image Credit:
Rebecca Morgan- Galaxy Note9, Canva, Kelly Morgan

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