Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Lainez.
Michelle, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I Wasn’t planning on being a chef in high school. Growing up, I never really cooked at home, I was interested in politics & business. I only cooked when we visited El Salvador, then you couldn’t get me out of the kitchen or the fields. Making cheese, tortillas, drying coffee or feeding the cows.
It was all very serendipitous. My best friend Matt who was 17 at the time was going to a culinary school open house, he dragged me along saying that I was a natural and should be a chef. I went along for funziez. We saw this woman break down a side of a cow and I was hooked. I never looked back. I gave up scholarships for university and went to culinary school. Best decision of my life!
I worked hard, had great chefs take me under their wings. I felt like I belonged. Cooking in a kitchen became meditative to me and service was my drug. I loved service, the rush, the saute pans, the calling of orders and putting up perfect dishes at the pass was intoxicating.
I worked in hotels and perfected production and eggs, I can make eggs like nobodies business. The farmers market became my church, and farmers, my preachers. My mentors worked me hard and pushed me to be better and rise above. 18 years later, I have taken a leap of faith and started my catering company. Chef Michelle and Company has been thriving for a year and a half and going strong.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It’s never a smooth road. If it is, you have to ask yourself are you really pushing yourself to be the best in your craft or career. Balance until this day is something I struggle with every day. When I was younger, it was managing work, school and family life as I got older, it’s still the same minus school. I would always put myself last on the list and I wasn’t taking care of my self. My health and personal life were suffering, but my career was was thriving.
It took a very serious health scare for me to put myself first. Once I did, I never took a back seat again. If there is one thing you can do for yourself is to take care of yourself before anything else. If you take care of yourself, then the rest will fall into place.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
Chef Michelle and Company is a conscious catering company. We take care of were we source our product and make sure that all of our dollars spent are going back to good farmers and our communities. Our events start with a conversation, we don’t do anything cookie cutter. We believe that starting your event with a conversation about people and vibe creates the best menu and time had by all. We are known for having creative menus to fit most budgets and bringing your events to life.
I am most proud of our ability to create a magical evening for our clients while supporting our local community. My favorite part of the event is the end when all the glitter has been swept from the floor and you can hear the lingering laughter in the wind. Everything is in its place and it’s like nothing ever happened. Seeing the smile on my client’s faces and knowing that we will forever be a part of their life through memories makes my night every time.
What advice would you give to someone at the start of her career?
Just do it already!! Nobody is going to do it for you, you have to put the work. When it gets hard, dig deep and keep pushing forward. While you are growing and learning, remember to be humble and kind as one of my mentors would tell me “everybody knows something, Nobody knows everything” I added, “keep your head up and eyes open.”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.chefmichelleandcompany.com/
- Phone: 323.486.0520
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefmichelle_and_company/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Chef-Michelle-Company-1773335199649867/
Image Credit:
@alizajsokolow, @la_yoselin, @sherry_gurl
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