Today we’d like to introduce you to Antoine Wilson.
Hi Antoine, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My name is Antoine Wilson, and to be honest, I never imagined I’d one day get paid to cook for people. It all started with me just having fun in the kitchen—cooking for family and friends. In 2017, I did my first event: a taco bar setup for a venue called Black Hollywood. That moment marked the beginning of Kitchen 49.
Things really took off during the pandemic. When the world shut down, I started selling plates out of my apartment and began booking more private events. I was just a kid from South Central LA, with no real knowledge of the food industry—definitely didn’t know how to price an event—but I had passion and drive. Fast forward to now, I’ve catered events for the NAACP, CBS, Dancing with the stars, King Drew Medical, Cedars-Sinai, and even for athletes and entertainers.
I never went to culinary school. Everything I know came from trial and error, and the support of two key people: my children’s mother and my uncle, who had been encouraging me to pursue culinary school since back in 2013. I’ve been pushing forward for about eight years now, still learning, still growing.
What I love most is watching people enjoy my food. There’s something special about how food brings people together—it truly is a universal love language.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My path has been filled with obstacles. There were moments when I almost gave up—days when selling just a few plates left me barely covering my grocery bills. Back in 2018, juggling a full-time job while catering on the side took its toll. Then a broken foot. That injury forced me to switch to catering full time, so that I could have a income stream. Despite the setback, I continued cooking and managing events, navigating the kitchen with one foot in a cast and relying on a knee scooter to get by.
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?
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I’m the chef and owner of Kitchen 49, a catering company based in Los Angeles. We specialize in soul food, Creole, and Cajun cuisine, and we’re proud to offer one of the best street taco bars in the city. We’re also known for our Philly cheesesteak egg rolls and garlic noodles—two of our most loved dishes.
What I’m most proud of on this journey is seeing people genuinely enjoy something I had the chance to create. That feeling is unmatched. I believe what sets me apart is simply being true to myself—staying in my own lane, avoiding negativity, and always remaining a student of the craft.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is family. My kids are everything to me—they’re my biggest motivation and the reason I work so hard. At the end of the day, it’s all about making sure they’re happy and taken care of.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Kitchen49catering.com
- Instagram: Kitchen49catering
- Facebook: Kitchen49
