Exploring Life & Business with Marshay Lewis of A Dash of Salt

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marshay Lewis.

Marshay, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My name is Marshay Lewis better known as Chef Shay. I’m a self-taught chef from Compton, California. I specialize in Mexican cuisine but can cook a little bit of everything for soul food to Italian cuisine. More recently, I was Formally taught at Los Angeles hospitality educational College, where I’ve learned how to cook from a wide range of cultures including (Asian, Italian, Middle Eastern, African,& a host of other cultures)

My love for cooking came from watching my dad Michael aka Salt (R.I.P), cook when I was younger. My Dad cooked on a daily! He has always been my cooking inspiration & how I came up with the name of my catering company, “A Dash-of-Salt” My Dad definitely played a key role in my cooking style and skills in the kitchen. In 2013 life changed drastically for me, I began cooking more healthy balanced meals when I became A full-time Caregiver & Chef for my grandmother Janette (“Granny”). Despite being sick with terminal cancer, she still taught me so much about cooking! She is the person who taught me how to cut a whole chicken & other necessary cooking methods. Making sure she always had healthy meals was a vital part of her healing. Cooking for our family on a daily basis is how I began to perfect a lot of my infamous recipes. Now don’t get me wrong just as much as my dad was an influence on my cooking journey so was my mom Lashawnda! To this day, she can still throw down in the kitchen! Anything from soul food to seafood .cooking has always been a way for me & my family to show our love to others. Putting my heart and soul into every ingredient is how I show my love! Cooking is not only my way to show love to my family but also to others within my community. Several times a year, my company donates meals for Thanksgiving, Christmas and also just on a monthly basis to feed the homeless. I have partnered with two amazing Non-Profits “Bag Ladies Sack Lunch Ministry and also “Project Educate” who give back in various ways to support and feed the unhoused community in Los Angeles. It’s always about giving back to the community I’ve grown up in because of you can’t be a blessing to others what impact are you truly making on the world around you.

Over the past couple of years, I have spent my time learning how to not only expand but also network my business more. Putting out weekly menus, as well as meal prep options & catering a host of events has been a way to get the word out there about “A Dash Of Salt” and what all I offer. I would say I’m most known for my infamous “Loaded Taquitos”. My husband Nate is who gave me the idea for them. They are made up of hand-rolled taquitos, topped with shredded lettuce, cheese, homemade guac, corn salsa & sour cream. There are times where I’ve had to roll over 200 + taquitos for an event! Being in the kitchen is truly my happy place… When I’m happy, I cook, when I’m overwhelmed, I cook, when I’m just bored, I do even more cooking, lol. I have even begun showing my oldest Son Legend how to cook simple things, I want to be able to pass my recipes and knowledge of food down to all three of my children (Legend, Luxx & Legacy). I want “A Dash of Salt” to be something that becomes generational wealth for my entire family and can be passed down from generation to generation to last a lifetime!

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?
I would say the road to where I am now within my career hasn’t been the easiest. But I Thank God for the journey because it has molded me into the strong black woman I am today. Having kids over the years has put me in a position where at times I had to put their needs and wants before my own. Yet nurturing them has been such a blessing for me and my husband. Parenthood made me want more not only For myself but also for my kids. They are truly the reason I decided a quit my job last year and focus more on my own Culinary business. I hope that my drive and determination show them that no matter what life brings their way never stop reaching for the stars! With hard work, anything in life is achievable

As you know, we’re big fans of A DASH OF SALT. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I’m a catering business based in Los Angeles that specializes in catering a wide variety of events, meal preps, & weekly menu options. I make everything ranging from Mexican food (tacos, taquitos, enchiladas, & tamales), Soul food (oxtails, fried chicken, Mac & Cheese, Yams, greens), Italian food (Pastas, Chicken parmesan, Lasagna) to Cajun Cuisine (jambalaya, dirty rice, red beans & rice, shrimp & grits) and the list can go on and on and on. As previously mentioned I’m well known for my “Loaded Taquitos” which are topped with all homemade fresh ingredients. I feel like I bring something different to the food because I do a lot of fusion cooking. I’ve taken my love for Mexican and soul food and had come up with many unique creations like my delicious Oxtail tacos, which are smothered with fried cabbage or even my fried catfish taco topped with southern-style collard greens and cornbread crumble sprinkled with hot sauce. What I want to be known about A Dash of Salt is that I can cater to anyone regardless of what your wants and needs are! As my slogan goes, “Catering is made your way”!

Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I can always be easily reached on my many different plate forms. From my business Facebook page (A Dash-of-Salt Catering), My Instagram (@adashofsalt), or by email ([email protected]). The easiest way to support me is word of mouth. Feel free to reach out for any future collaborations or bookings!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adashofsaltla
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ADASHOFSALT?mibextid=LQQJ4d