Today we’d like to introduce you to Brittinie Love.
Hi Brittinie, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
Growing up in the Pacific Northwest has afforded me access to highly-rated restaurants that have and continue to enrich my palate with gourmet specialty foods. In the Spring of 2020, the norm of patronizing the hospitality industry came to a reaching halt. As the Pandemic extended into the year, I began to miss the experience of consuming great food that not only satisfied the tastes, but there’s was a cultural lag in representation of chefs that was now manifested in my search for good food.
There was a moment of clarity that suspended in time when I was cooking for myself that I began to recognize that it was more than just a passion to cook, but there was a missing ingredient called “Love”. Cooking with Love was born to my dream of Entrepreneurship. I began honing my skills in cooking and culinary techniques while using my creativity to develop new culinary flavor combinations and ideas that will meet a challenging yet rewarding career when working in a professional kitchen.
With a cell phone camera, my sister, and a dream, I began to perform cooking demonstrations on social media, and people tuned in. What started from my small apartment kitchen has now expanded to managing a team with a full-service catering company called Cooking with Love!
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?
There are always ups and downs on the road of hospitality. I have to rent a truck for deliveries; I need access to a professional kitchen that is affordable to use on a regular basis. Finding ways to diversify catering options that can feed a population with various cultural backgrounds is a constant learning curve. Cultural diversity can boost productivity, and it is my goal to continue to find ways to offer a wide range of food options that can cater to all customers and preferences. As a new entrepreneur, it can be challenging to break into the industry as an African-American Woman. Entrepreneurship presents a complex landscape that has posed formidable challenges, including economic disparities and building a large customer base. Sometimes the lack of access to financial resources necessary to grow and sustain is often a struggle. The journey or road is ongoing, and my call to action is for the state and counties across this nation contribute to equitable financial access, remove barriers, and establish an unwavering commitment to support black businesses as they cater to the needs and palettes of our diverse demographics.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a mobile caterer with partnerships that include a bar service and event planning & decor. I am known for being the singing Chef, so I have been asked to feed and perform, which sets me apart from other Chefs. I made history in Portland as the first black caterer to be added to Portland Art Museum’s list of preferred vendors. (https://www.koin.com/news/portland/portland-chef-makes-history-as-pams-first-black-caterer/) In my first year as an Entrepreneur, I catered for organizations such as the NAACP Portland Branch, which featured the governor and keynote speaker, Hill Harper. I put passion and, most of all, the main ingredient of “Love” in every meal that I make. As an African-American Businesswoman in the hospitality industry, I am unique because less than 10% in America are African-American Chefs.
My infamous signature statement I say after each meal I cook is: “When you’re cooking with love, it always taste better.”
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
As a child growing up, I was loved by my parents, and education was an important value in our family. I have four siblings, and all of us earned a college degree, which is rare in African American families. We also were taught to treat others as you would want them to treat you, so I learned how to serve others through excellence. My father is known for being an incredible cook, while my mom was known for being an incredible consumer of the good food. I learned how to communicate effectively with people and always put the Lord first in my life. My success, skills, and knowledge all comes from God. It is the center and foundation of how I serve others. I want to transform society through servant leadership, which is the motto I live by. I remember wanting to be a chef since the age of 4 or 5 years old. I have always dreamed about being a chef, but now, through the help of the Lord, I’ve turned the dream into reality through actionable strategies. This is only the beginning. The best is yet to come!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cookingwithblove.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cookingwithblove/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cookingwithblove
Image Credits
Jade Whitney
Brandon Dean
