Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephan Baity.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Cooking has always been something that has been in my family.
Cooking is something that has always been in my family one of my earliest childhood memories with my dad is when we were in the kitchen and I asked him what was he seasoning his steak with and he told me it was a secret. My mother also is a fantastic cook and served with my brothers; my grandmother like any other family definitely set the tone for the culinary fabric of our family.
In high school, I met a woman who would forever change my life Rebecca Labowitz. She was not in today’s culinary standard so what you will call a fine dining chef but she knew the business and she understood the operations when I first joined her class I have to admit I was not very interested at all I joined it just to pass the time but one day I excelled at a particular project and she called me in her office and asked me where have I been all year. We made a pack that day that she will give me her all and I will give her my all. From there, she begins to help me to apply to different culinary institutions. She also introduced me to a gentleman who would unlock a secret gift I never knew I had this man’s name is Dick Alfred he is the one who introduced me to fruit and vegetable carving. After attending culinary school in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania I was excepted to do an internship at the Amway Grand Plaza in Grand Rapids Michigan. Where are my skills as a chef refined by two visionaries Josef Huber and my mentor Chris Madsen. After receiving my degree, I entered into the world of contract dining ware I have work for the past 21 years.
When I was 19 years old and I accepted at my first job as a chef manager. I begin to use pumpkin carving templates on watermelons to use on my buffet displays. Unfortunately win the Halloween season ended I ran out of templates out of desperation I went online and search fruit and vegetable carving I stumbled across Thai fruit carving. The very art of fruit carving that I’m known for today. I failed miserably for six years trying to teach myself how to sculpt and carve fruit like I saw online. I was buying X-Acto blades from hobby stores to use to create my designs. One day the lightbulb went off and I carved my first rose. Fast forward a few years later my son Seth is born in one evening I distinctly remember sitting in his room rocking him to sleep and telling him he could be anything he wanted to be in at that moment I had a great sense of guilt come over me because I had never taken a chance in my life it was at that moment I decided to enter into my first fruit and vegetable carving competition and I placed sixth out of 18 competitors when I was called on stage to receive my award they asked me what was the name of my company. Hmmmm at this time I was just Stephan C Baity. So I begin to think about it and Graffiti Carving was born growing up in public housing also known as the projects the first former art I ever saw was run-down buildings that were graffitied I thought how expressive it was and it sent a message to others that the space was owned. With that being said whenever I post a picture online when I use fruit and vegetable as a canvas I graffiti it.
In 2015, the Food Network called me to join a show Christmas cake wars. The theme would consist of a cake artist a food sculpture and sugar artist. And after 12 competitions our team prevailed victorious. In 2017, the Food Network called again and I went back to do another carving competition called hayride of horror a pumpkin carving competition where two teams would go heads up back-and-forth.
In 2020, I went back to do Halloween wars featured on the Food Network also. In 2020 I also journeyed to Stuttgart Germany to compete in the culinary IKA Olympics to represent the United States that’s a whole nother story but I am so proud of my efforts and I was able to receive it to culinary diplomas for excellence.
Also in this time, I received three chef of the year awards from the American Culinary Federation.
Then a moment happened that I will never forget my inspiration suddenly passed away. My father will be called Pops transitioned to his final rest and left a huge hole and I was not quite sure how to fill it I was talking to a good friend of mine and he suggested that I should find a way to create a memorial to honor Pops that’s when Pops secret Seasoning by Stephan C Baity was .created. This is my way to honoring his legacy and his contribution to my life.
With all the success I’ve had is created a platform for me to be able to partner with other nonprofits for programming and support. I’ve been so blessed with a mini years to use my gift to benefit and mentor others.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Over the years, I’ve had to be a trailblazer to be the first at many. Because my style of cooking is not soul food and because I choose to take the fine dining approach oftentimes people overlook your process and they conclude that your promise came easy. I taught myself how to carve fruit and vegetables. I would literally sit and buy bags of produce and practice day after day an hour after hour until ultimately, I’ve been able to attain success that I have today.
Food service is one of the most stressful occupations that I know is very hard on your body it takes a toll on your social life and there is a great sacrifice to your family because the kitchen requires so much of you it is such a big sacrifice. Making sure that I stay relevant. Food service is always changing along with supply and demand.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I partner with other companies as an ambassador to co-brand their products.
Custom fruit and vegetable displays (Graffiti Carving)
Artisan Seasoning Company (Pops Secret Seasoning by Stephan C Baity
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Iron Sharpens Iron
Finding someone that will keep you accountable is critical….it is not an option. Having someone in your life that can step on your shoes and not steal your shine. I have people in my life who while not only celebrate me but will also humble me. People are in your life for reasons, seasons, and lifetimes.
We only have 2 reasons for being on this earth… To plant seeds in someone’s life or to water seeds.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.stephancbaity.com
- Instagram: stephancbaity
