Today we’d like to introduce you to Chanell Hale.
Chanell, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
As I continue to share my story, my experiences offer different perspectives on how I got to where I am today within the food services business, but I know for sure it was rooted in my love for seeing how good people feel when eating my food. I started cooking while in college, getting inspiration from trying new dishes when traveling during school breaks. Cooking became therapeutic for me and helped me to cope when losing my brother to senseless gun violence in Chicago. I graduated with a bachelor’s in Psychology and M.S.W, with no thought in mind that I would begin to put so much energy into cooking, and cooking while creating a professional food service at that.
Like many other college graduates, I had been applying for jobs for months before graduation, but I had not heard back from anyone. I sat in the mirror, disappointed and full of fear. I asked myself what it is that I have been blessed with, that I can work with to make money. Something that I’m good at. I thought about how much my college family, friends and roommates loved my food. I had this crazy visualization going on in my head of a restaurant. I felt like Princess Tiana! I saw myself making food that had everyone present and enjoying the moment, the food, and the energy of the space was magical. I began to write a menu out with quirky item names. I shared it with friends and family, and realized that I had no resources to open nor manage a restaurant. I couldn’t get the visual out of my head, I would dream about different events and moments where people would enjoy food. I came up with Dreamyvents Catering company in my dreams, to keep my restaurant dreams alive. When I woke up, I used my dreams as a blueprint to get started.
Dreamyvents Catering became much more than a dream and business idea for me. This journey has led me down so many paths I never imagined and I’m beyond grateful. Cooking has created so many opportunities for me to grow as a human, learn, reflect within myself, travel, meet new people, bond with new friends, become health conscious, bring people together, and so much more, It is my dream to nourish my community with delicious, healthy food options and bring awareness to the effect of foods on our mental health and wellness. Right now, I am using cooking to Feed the Kiddos in Chicago and we are on our way to providing 1000 meals to the children in our community, within just 2 weeks!
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?
NOT AT ALL!! Haha, but seriously, anything worth having is going to be hard work. Doors will remain locked before you until you learn what is needed to elevate to the next level. Those same doors will not only begin to unlock but will be hanging wide open for me to walk in when the time is right. I see my purpose being aligned as days go by and I’m so amazed. I’m a witness and a vessel. I believe this is why my journey with cooking has been going at its pace, how it is. I’m grateful for its pace and all the bumps in the road. Those are moments for me to ask myself, what is your purpose? How can I be a servant? What is working? What isn’t working? How can I improve? Those are moments for me to ask myself, do you want this? What is your why? I needed every struggle, they helped me to shape my journey, understand what is needed from me and my services, and great for building my character.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Dreamyvents Catering – what should we know?
Dreamyvents Catering is really developing as a platform for me to express myself as a food lover, share information about the healing properties of food, as a food artist, and share the effect of food on our mental health. I’m really just a foodie and healer at heart. Within Dreamyvents Catering, I am able to offer full-service catering, private dining experiences (intimate, romantic, birthday parties and more), cooking classes, share information about food, organize food drives, curate menus, blend and offer spices, offer shea butter, assist with event planning and logistics, and so much more!
I love curating one-of-a-kind menus that meet the desires of the event planner as well as the expectations of the guests. I am known for creating menus that allow for people to try several different menu items in one event. I love making authentic dishes and creating new recipes with experiences in mind that I have had when traveling. Traveling inspires the dishes I create. I love to evoke great magical feelings, vibrations, and unforgettable moments when people enjoy my food.
I specialize in creating delicious health-conscious gourmet cuisines with unforgettable flavours. I am known for offering food that everyone can enjoy.
I am so proud of creating something from nothing. I am so grateful that Dreamyvents Catering continues to not only grow but inspire my growth as a person and a black woman. This company has given me so much hope and allowed me to help and inspire others as well. I’m proud of this company for striving to be and do better. I’m so proud of the thousands of people I have been able to cook for, learn from, grow with. I’m so proud of those moments when people reach out to me for suggestions, and healthy alternatives. I’m so proud of every referral I’ve earned. I’m so proud of being able to inspire anyone to dig inside themselves to find their gifts and seek their purpose. I’m so proud that I have been able to create opportunities for employment to my family and my community. I’m so proud I have been able to organize a food drive and feed the children in my community!
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Consistency. You have to be able to withstand the storms no matter what is going on in the world around you. It is going to rain!! Pour!!! Lightning!! Thunderstorms, hail, snow, the big bad wolf is going to blow your house down, but it is important to me to be able to maintain myself, mentally and physically, and maintain my business professionally. I am learning that I need consistency in my life in order to give great energy and consistency to my business projects.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dreamyventscatering.com
- Phone: 7732453118
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dreamyventscatering/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DreamyventsCatering/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/dreamyvents-catering-chicago
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