Today we’d like to introduce you to Salimah “Chef Soleil” Abdul-Hakim.
Salimah, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I grew up in a household filled with great memories of delicious foods and desserts; peach & cherry cobblers, lemon meringue pie, red velvet and German chocolate cake were my father’s favorite items to make from scratch. My mother had photo albums filled with images of her cooking and entertaining folks at events she threw at the house. My grandmother always had the best food on the holidays. This was the foundation that ignited my passion and love affair with food.
In 2015, a group of my friends and I came together to brainstorm on where we saw our lives in the next five years. I wanted to start a business that incorporated my passion for food, community, traveling, and spices across the globe. I searched through different names that would fit my vision, and I came across “Soleil,” French for the sun. The word resonated with me; I wanted people to experience the warmth that food brings. Five years later, it’s a part of Soleil Kitchen’s business model “We are bringing the warmth of the sun by shining a light on multicultural urban cuisine, one delicious bite at a time.”
Has it been a smooth road?
Being an entrepreneur has many challenges, especially as a minority, woman owned business. Having the access to knowledge, capital/funding, and certain networks is something that’s ongoing, and honestly, you have to create your own tribe of people who aren’t necessarily holding your hand throughout the journey, but they’re holding you accountable, supporting you, sharing resources, and if there’s no seat at the table, they’re busting down the door with you!
No one tells you once you leave corporate America how the same processes that were in place at that company, you now have to create for your own business: hiring process, On-boarding, training curriculum, handbooks, corporate responsibilities, company culture, you name it! It can be very, very overwhelming, and it’s lead to many sleepless nights and high-anxiety that I never had previously. I’ve missed birthdays, holidays, weddings, baby showers – and not everyone understands the demands of being an entrepreneur. You can’t just clock out and offload the work onto someone else. You’ve gotta have thick skin to do this!
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Soleil Kitchen officially launched in October 2016, and I never imagined the way God and the universe have allowed it to grow exponentially! We offer corporate and private catering, traveling chef services, along with pop-up events and meal prep! We’ve had the pleasure of working with individual clients and big brands such as American Ninja and NBC Studio’s, P&G, United Way, Macy’s, and NFL players, to name a few.
What sets us apart is our food concept is different. Being in the center of intersectionality—I’m black, I’m a woman, I’m Muslim—I wanted that to show in my cooking style of Urban Cuisine. This food fare encompasses the different spices and recipes that each community offers. We source local and organic ingredients as much as possible, rarely fried and greasy food options. We incorporate a multitude of dishes; Cajun shrimp pasta, Cheddar Grits & Creole shrimp, Savory Blackened Salmon, or Spiced Maple Hennessy Wings. We offer more than just soul food and southern dishes; we offer Italian, Indian, and Caribbean cuisine, whether it’s Jamaican or Bahamian. We incorporate a lot of multiethnic food. We’re known for our #deliciouslydope cooking style and exceptional client support!
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I love Atlanta and Cincinnati equally. Atlanta is a great market for new businesses that have a plan and know how to execute it properly. If you’re starting in Atlanta, get to know the city and the needs of the customers there, that will help you determine what your demographics are and address the needs of the consumer you wish to attract.
Pricing:
- Traveling Private Chef services, starting at $1,000+
- Minimum catering order, starting at $500+
Contact Info:
- Website: www.soleilkitchen.com
- Email: Hello@SoleilKitchen.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/Soleil.Kitchen
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/SoleilKitchen
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/SoleilKitchen
Image Credit:
Headshot: @12AMMedia
Food Photos: Soleil Kitchen
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