Daily Inspiration: Meet Shieya Beth Evans

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shieya Beth Evans.

Hi Shieya Beth, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born a foodie, learned to fry chicken when I was 12. I loved to eat and cook but I didn’t see a lot of role models (women like me) in successful culinary careers when I was young. I considered cooking my secret, between me and whatever I was making. It wasn’t that I was being selfish and not wanting to share my talent and my food, everyone knows that sharing is the best part of this community. I just kept it to myself and my family and pursued visual arts. I spent many years as a published professional photographer in the skateboarding & music industry before going to fashion school while raising my children. I even ran a successful reptile business while they were growing up. But cooking food was woven into everything I did. Searching for my niche in life, food was still my guarded, happy place. I was too afraid to let anything in and ruin it. Every other career I had ventured into had been spoiled by unscrupulous players. When I finally did a mid-life Hail Mary, I jumped into the kitchen as a line cook and never looked back. I had found my happy place and my people. Maybe we’re all a little masochistic, but we were the same and we ran off the same adrenalin.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Being a single mother and working for minimum wage presented its challenges but I didn’t have much of a choice. I had given up my past life and every comfort that came with it. My kids reassured me when I had doubts about following this path. After all they would sacrifice the most, their time with mom. But step by step I moved up the line. I had business experience, which was a plus in the kitchen and I knew how to lead. But just when I snagged my first executive chef position, COVID hit and stopped me dead in my tracks.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Covid turned into a blessing in disguise. I had the time reflect and decided to build something of my own. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to take a leap, as many did. I started out doing small private dinners for families and small parties and as the restrictions on gatherings lifted, the size of my bookings grew. By 2022 I was catering 150 person galas and curating custom menus for a variety of clients. I have become known for bending the rules of food and creating edible art. Utilizing modern gastronomy techniques and the comfort food of my childhood, I have created our signature “Chix-n-Blankets” appetizer. A riff on chicken & waffles, we create multi-colored soft pizzelle “blankets” that wrap each cornflake crusted chicken tender and are drenched in Jameson maple syrup. They can be customized to match different themes, color schemes and are crowd favorites. Deconstructing and reinventing ingredients marries my love of art and food and never gets old.

What matters most to you? Why?
Making my kids proud is so important to me. I wish my son was here so I could tell him how much he inspired me to be fearless and chase this dream. I finally agreed to go on a Food Network show after he passed because I remembered him telling me that I had nothing to be afraid of. He lived his life fearlessly and now so do I. Think of my daughters’ faces when they heard that I won Supermarket Stakeout is a constant reassurance that I am on the right track. Through the inevitable ups and downs I will keep going.

Contact Info:

• Website: thekookery.com
• Instagram: @chefshieya
• Facebook: @thekookery_la

Image Credits
Rhiannon Daniels – Portrait Abby Cox – Sliders Channing Fleetwood – Candle