Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin Phommasith.
Hi Justin, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I’ve worked in restaurants and professional kitchens for over 15 years. My family history has a long line of restaurant entrepreneurs and a passion for cooking. Out of high school, I attended The Illinois Institute of Art Chicago, which started the base of my culinary education. After graduating in 2011, I moved to Carrollton, GA, to work under my father- Tano Phommasith, owner of Little Hawaiian and Venue on Cedar. My time spent there included every facet of cooking, from casual, fine dining to large-scale catering for weddings and corporate events of up to 3000 people. During this time, while my passion for food grew, I also became extremely interested in health and fitness. In 2020 I decided to take a leap of faith and pursue personal training and nutrition coaching to help bridge both my passions together. After studying and being immersed in the health and fitness culture, I found myself constantly sharing recipes, techniques, and ideas to help clients achieve their goals. I was even meal prepping for my co-workers and devoting hours every week to help them be successful in their everyday tasks through the week. Then it hit me: why not do this for a living? I slowly started gathering ideas and digging into my brand and what it would mean to me or anyone that used it. After trying some other brands and meal prep options, I learned that the food just didn’t have that restaurant flavor and lacked that “chef’s kiss,” if you will. It was just fast, convenient, and cheap. I learned from my dad that anything worth doing is worth doing right. I knew that if I could create a great product that tasted good but had a great macronutrient profile, all while having that “personal touch” of communication and relationship building where you can talk to the chef. It would be a hit! I began making meals under the N3 Meals brand in April of 2022 cooking for about 10 clients a week to now serving almost 30+ clients a week. I now have a revolving menu of 7 core meals and a library of over 50 healthy high-protein dishes. I have expanded into bulk ingredient preparation to even help accommodate those who want to get more bang for their buck and require specific food quantities.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
After the pandemic, managing food costs and having reliable food purveyors has been a struggle. Inflation and cost of goods is at an all-time high, and the restaurant and food industry has taken a big hit from that. Finding the right balance of quality and convenience for my customers without cutting corners is part of the integrity of being a culinary professional.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My favorite flavors to work with are Asian and Latin American. They are bold, fun, exciting, and always a crowd pleaser. I’d say my best dishes always are always ones that people recognize from their daily lives, but I always try to make sure to prioritize proteins in every meal. The average person consumes inadequate amounts of protein, which helps support muscle mass and metabolism. One of my favorite compliments was from a client I’ve had for over a year, and he has told me he has felt the best he’s felt in years by supplementing his weekly lunches and dinners with my meals. That’s something that speaks to me because that’s why I started this whole thing.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
Summer vacations from 6-8th grade were elite. Riding bikes around the neighborhood, flashlight tag, fishing at the lake. Just being outside and being a kid, I miss that.
Pricing:
- A La carte meal pricing $9-$14
- Meal plan pricing $63-$188
- Bulk food pricing $5-$15 per pound.
Contact Info:
- Website: N3meals.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/n3meals?igsh=Zm56aDZiZG8yOHlo&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/bJstsPUruJkehPNp/?mibextid=LQQJ4d
Image Credits
Morgan Lindros Photography
