Today we’d like to introduce you to Kalyn Victor.
Hi Kalyn, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I grew up being in the kitchen with my mom and aunts. We always had big family potlucks with a lot of food that everyone had to contribute to. A lot of trial and error occurred as a result from that and I started to get into Food Network. I was heavily influenced by the show Chopped because it showed regular people like me really showing their passion for cooking. I remade recipes from shows and added my own twist to some.
When I initially started my college career, I majored in Biological Engineering and quickly came to realize that I did not want to take the conventional route and a traditional education was not the best choice for me. I then went to Kendall College and studied Culinary Arts and I knew that was the path I was supposed to be on. From there, I opened up my own catering company, Kalyn’s Culinary Adventures.
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?
In no way has this been an easy journey. Figuring out what I wanted to do for the rest of my life was scary. I didn’t want to make the wrong choice. I started at Louisiana State University, then I came home to Chicago to a junior college for a while before deciding that I just needed to take a step back and really think about what makes me happy. I did not initially have the support from my family that I hoped for to start my culinary career, which in itself was difficult to accept. Once I opened my business in 2020, clients were not rolling in as I expected which lowered my confidence in myself to run a business by myself.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a personal chef and caterer in the Chicagoland and Metro Atlanta area. I specialize in personally curated menus and themed events. I think of myself as a creative because it takes a certain amount of artistic talent to come up with dishes that are different and exciting to try.
The one thing I’m most proud of is my follow through. This road wasn’t easy but it’s worth it. The decision to open Kalyn’s Culinary Adventures really opened my eyes to what I could do. I think my work ethic sets me apart from others. The passion and love I have for being in the kitchen and being able to create something that will make people feel good and full and satisfied is more than I could have imagined doing,
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Don’t be afraid to promote yourself and your business. Confidence is key. Go to restaurants ask to meet the owners and the Chef. You have to put yourself out there. Just going out and starting conversations has gotten me so many new clients.
Contact Info:
- Email: kalyn.victor519@gmail.com
- Website: https://kalynsculinaryadventures.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kalynsculinaryadventures/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kalynsculinaryadventures/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/kalyns-culinary-adventures-tinley-park
