Vernice Gaston shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Vernice , thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
This is a very thoughtful question. Many are fighting secret battles and feel they have nowhere or no one to turn to. One of the main things I think others are struggling with but never say is loneliness; even when they are surrounded by people, many people feel unseen or disconnected. It is hard to admit out loud because they make people feel vulnerable, but they’re more common than we realize.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Vernice Gaston, and I am a Chef and co-owner, along with my husband, Kendall Gaston, of Affordable Gourmet. My great aunt and godmother both started me on my culinary adventure and sparked my love of cooking. I love taking raw ingredients and spices and creating dishes for my family and others to experience. I think perhaps I have a talent for making people feel at home with my meals. I am also inspired to push culinary boundaries and surprise everyone with new flavors. My cooking style combines creativity with a passion for the ingredients, utilizing fresh, local produce and bold flavors to craft dishes that evoke emotion and spark joy. Currently, we are working on branding and commercializing different products to distribute nationwide!
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
For most people, the part that often needs to be released is an old version of themselves—the one built around survival, fear, or outdated expectations. For me, the part that has served its purpose, and I am working on releasing, is a fear-driven voice. A fear-driven voice used to keep me cautious, but it is starting to hold me back from growing in my career, emotionally, mentally, and physically.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear that has held me back the most in my life is the fear of not being enough. Not being smart enough, talented enough, lovable enough, or worthy of what others want. That shapes so many of my choices: staying quiet instead of speaking up, holding back dreams instead of pursuing them, or settling for less instead of risking rejection or failure. It hides behind perfectionism, procrastination, and even overachievement.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
I think my closest friends would say that TRUST really matters to me. Trust is the foundation that makes almost everything in life feel safe and meaningful. Without it, relationships, work, and even a sense of self can feel unstable. Without trust, every interaction feels like walking on eggshells. With it, relationships feel like a home you can rest in. One of my favorite quotes is “trust is gained in drops and lost in buckets” by Kevin A. Plank. We rely on others for food, safety, knowledge, love, and even meaning. Trust is the unseen thread that makes this reliance possible. Without it, life becomes misgiving and creates chaos; with it, support and community develop.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I think that I couldn’t care less if others remember my achievements, but I hope people talk about my character and my heart. I my story is more about how I made others feel and less about the things I did. I hope they talk about my kindness, how I show up when needed, my generosity, and any joy or happiness that I brought to their lives.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.1affordablegourmet.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1affordablegourmet
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1affordablegourmet
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@affordable_gourmet
Image Credits
Vernice Gaston
