We recently had the chance to connect with Chef Tae Monaee and have shared our conversation below.
Tae, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
There are a lot of moving parts behind the scenes that people don’t get to see. When someone inquires about an event, it’s an automatic deep-dive into planning. I have to think about the type of event, if I’ll be able to cook at the venue, will i have enough space for the entire set up, the type of food that’ll be served, making sure i have everything prepped and that there’s enough time to get everything done. Most event planning starts months in advance, but the week of the event is when everything kicks into overdrive. There’s multiple grocery store runs, equipment checks, and whatever else the universe might throw at you. The name of the game is adaptation and i don’t think the motion behind the scenes gets enough credit.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Born and raised in the south suburbs of Illinois, there was just a little girl with big dreams of becoming a chef. Surrounded by the warmth of family kitchens and the rhythm of community life, she imagined herself one day creating culinary magic. Since i could remember i had dreams of becoming a chef. I’ve always had a love for colors and kitchen aid was my first introduction! I remember seeing my aunts kitchen stocked with the red kitchen aid equipment and i thought it was the most interesting thing. I had never actually seen her using it though, so i had absolutely zero knowledge about what it actually did. One day i saw the actual kitchen aid commercial when they expanded their colors and i immediately fell in love with all the vibrant colors. In that moment, i knew i wanted to collect every color. As i grew older, i learned about the different flavors and styles of cooking and i was hooked!! My mind started to wander through all the different possibilities and combinations i could create in this industry which led me to opening my own company called “Sunnshine Creative Company”. There’s been a lot of highs and lows in the industry, but i still maintain my ability to cook with love. I aim to give a hug with every meal i serve, to let everyone experience the kind of energy i was raised with. My company specializes in private events, vending, catering, lessons, menu curation and execution. Finding my path hasn’t always been easy, but i can guarantee we’re changing lives along the way.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My granny and my great-granny—God rest their souls—were two of the most extraordinary women I’ve ever known. Their presence was steady, their love unwavering. They made me believe that I could—whatever it was, they saw it in me.
They looked at me and didn’t just see a little girl. They saw a whole person, with a future worth nurturing. Their faith in me planted roots deep in my spirit, and I carry that with me still.
Even now, I feel their voices in quiet moments, gently reminding me of who I am and what I’m capable of. They were my foundation, my quiet strength, and some of my favorite people to ever walk this earth.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I believe it happens in cycles. There’s been a few times i was being hurt and didn’t deserve it, whether personal or professional, but i didn’t let that determine who i was going to be. I always say, what someone did to me can’t stop me from being a good person. There’s already enough people who’ve allowed their circumstances to change who they are. I have to be strong for the little girl who didn’t have a voice. I still struggle sometimes with using my pain as power, but allowing the pain to be repurposed helps me heal instead of it turning into anger.
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. Is the public version of you the real you?
Absolutely! Although there may be different ways that i may show up, all of them are authentic. I don’t allow society to tell me who i should be.
I am the quiet and the storm,
The sunrise wrapped in midnight’s form.
I shift like wind across the sea—
Each version still, completely me.
I won’t be boxed, I won’t conform,
My soul was never made to perform.
No label, mask, or cage can bind
The wild truth I’ve come to find.
They say, “Be this,” I answer, “Why?”
My spirit’s voice is my reply.
No script from them will chart my course—
I move with love, I lead with force.
Some days I bloom, some days I burn,
But every phase is mine to earn.
So let me rise, and let me roam—
In all my forms, I am at home.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
Everyone is entitled to their own opinions—but those who truly know me, know that I would give the clothes off my back for someone in need. I’ve known what it’s like to be at my lowest. That’s why I lead with compassion. I don’t always get it right, but my intentions come from a place of love and empathy.”
