Today we’d like to introduce you to Ava Bell Taylor.
Hi Ava Bell, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Growing up in Stone Mountain, GA, I remember there was always something cooking in the kitchen! And my mom made sure I knew how to cook pretty early on. What I didn’t realize was how food would end up being a major part of my life. I attended the University of Miami studying creative advertising, marketing and graphic design which I still use now as a freelance graphic designer, but cooking has definitely stolen the show. I never considered myself a serious chef until I entered a cooking competition show called I Am Not A Chef filmed in Brooklyn, NY. I was able to beat 12 other home chefs and bring home $5,000! This win gave me the confidence to create my own cooking show, Cooking with Flava with Ava!
I wanted to take cooking more seriously, so I looked into culinary school. Before I could even apply to culinary school, I landed a job as a chef at a Caribbean Southern fusion restaurant, Ms. Icey’s Kitchen and Bar located in Decatur, GA. There, I learned how to become a professional chef.
Cooking with Flava with Ava started in my parent’s kitchen during the beginning of the pandemic. Since then, I’ve moved into my own new kitchen as well as traveled abroad to the Dominican Republic and Mexico for a special episodes! As well as visiting Christopher’s Haven for fun cooking classes for the families receiving treatment.
With Cooking with Flava with Ava, I want to show how you can make delicious and flavorful recipes at home! I specialize in dairy-free southern comfort food. However, I have recently turned vegan and decided to bring that same flavor to vegan-friendly dishes such as the best vegan mac & cheese and fried chicken and waffles that will fool any of your friends and have them begging for more!
When I’m not cooking, you can find me with my fur babies Lilo and Max or volunteering with my three favorite organizations: Paws Atlanta which is the longest open no kill animal shelter in Atlanta, Stride Inc. which offers horse therapy to special needs kids and adults, and Paint Love which brings art to children, schools and communities in the Atlanta area that are in need.
I started traveling the world around the age of 16 with an ambassador program to China, Italy, Germany, Amsterdam and France which ignited my love for other cultures and people. Part of the trip, we would stay with local families in their homes to really get to know the culture. I’ve also been
to South America, Australia, Africa and have realized how similar we all are.
Ceramics both hand-built and wheel thrown have been a hobby of mine since high school. I actually recreated Chick fil-a’s spicy chicken sandwich meal from clay, lol. When I’m not in the ceramics studio, you can find me pursuing my acting career or doing my actual career which is in holistic medicine and wellness. I manage my family’s holistic medical practice in Atlanta where we specialize in bio identical hormone replacement, nutritional IV therapy, weight loss, cosmetics and overall health.
I plan to own my own homeless shelters for kids, adults and animals. As well as having multiple businesses for cookware, women’s wear, ceramic and workout studios. I look forward to the life God has in store for me!
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?
Growing up as a person of color in a primarily white suburban area to then go to a college with the same kind of environment comes with its challenges to say the least but I’ve used them to grow as a person and to help other people who have experienced similar situations. It also isn’t always easy to pursue what looks like to be an impossible dream(s) but one of my favorite Bible verses in Matthew is “To him
who knocks (and keeps on knocking) the door will be opened.” So I keep knocking!
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Cooking with Flava with Ava?
I mentioned my show Cooking with Flava with Ava in my bio but it is also used for my catering company! We do private events, birthdays, reunions, charity events, you name it! We are vegan and flavor friendly! Not only do we provide the best food but we can decorate your venue and or surrounding areas to match the theme of your party for a special price!
What was your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite childhood memory would be driving down to Destin, Florida once or twice a year with my family for a vacation. We would always go to our favorite restaurant, Louisiana Lagniappe, for their hushpuppies! They are still there today actually, going strong. Summer nights at the amusement park going on the bumper cars and go-carts. Looking back, my first introduction to pottery was in Destin. I would always go to this pottery studio where you could paint different types of pieces from cats to plates to whatever you wanted. The pool, the beach, the town, everything was so perfect. Destin truly was our happy place.
Contact Info:
- Website: cookingwithflavawithava.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/cookingwithflavawithava
- Facebook: facebook.com/cookingwithflavawithava
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/user/MsAva96
- Tik Tok: cookingwithflavawithava
- Other: instagram.com/avabelltaylor
Image Credits
Ava Bell Taylor
