Today we’d like to introduce you to Donna Mesa.
Donna, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Ten years ago I was a radio talk show host with a food/chef/cooking program which featured upbeat Celebrity Chef interviews and all things foodie-related. I interviewed every familiar face you see on Food Network from Rachael Ray, Gui Fieri, Bobby Flay, Paula Deen, Wolfgang Puck, Giada DeLaurentiis, Ted Allen, Robert Irvine… Just to name a few.
My show gained so much local popularity here in Atlanta during a time when Food Network was at its peak of popularity itself, and my original 30 minutes pre-recorded program got extended to a full hour of LIVE foodie entertainment, then 2 other radio stations picked it up to air, and then it was chosen to air multiple times per weekend instead of just once. It became an industry hit!! The Dishing With Donna Show was my baby. It also featured local restaurant reviews and interviews with local Chefs around town. My program aired for 5 years strong. In its first year, Food Network caught wind of the program, brought me to NYC to meet with them, and became a great ally in my success.
During this incredible ride, the Food Network sent me a man to interview named Herb Mesa. He was from Atlanta and a finalist on the hit show, Next Food Network Star. He also quickly became a local celebrity Chef. Herb and I actually fell in love and eventually became man and wife! We are happily married with the most irresistible little toddler named Ozzy.
After The Dishing With Donna Show ended, my husband and I put our skill sets and passions together and set out on a new adventure. We created “Entertainment Chefs”! We are a husband and wife cooking team that focuses on 2 main platforms. First, we put on a high energy and entertaining cooking demo for audiences. We have been doing cooking demo shows for the Atlanta Braves for over 6 years together as well as private parties, corporate events, and festivals. Second, we are your meal prep pros! We cook your meals for you and even deliver on a daily basis to individuals all around Atlanta. We focus mainly on “fit food” and work with you according to your diet and goals.
My professional Chef husband is a health guru and fitness fanatic, while I’m a comfort food junkie. So putting our cooking talents together, we can cater to anyone interested in meal prep. We feel so blessed to be able to work from home and work side by side almost every day. Not every couple could do that, but it works for us and we absolutely love it! Plus it allows us the advantage to be full-time parents to our little future chef… We lead a delicious happy life. As Julia Childs famously quoted, “Life itself is the proper binge”!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Being self-employed for anyone can sometimes bring stress and struggle. There are some months where we are wowed by our workload and welcome the blessing! But there are also some months where we feel as if we’re scraping by. And of course, one month can be totally different than the next. We see a lot of seasonal ups and downs as well.
November and December can be incredible because of so many private and corporate parties and functions in which we are asked to cook or perform. But the summers can often be stressful due to so many people traveling and vacationing and not needing a personal chef every day.
But the answer lies in preparing ahead of time for these fluctuations. The Entertainment Chefs have been doing this long enough now to have a good idea of what is coming and what to expect as the months go by… But being self-employed can often be unpredictable in itself… Although we wouldn’t change it for the world!
Entertainment Chefs – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
The Entertainment Chefs is a personal chef service. We entertain audiences with upbeat cooking demos and even offer corporate team building opportunities. We will come to your home for private parties or special occasions, and always interactive. Whether it’s for a holiday party or a romantic dinner for 2… We like to say that no party is too small and no event is too big. We do it all! We will come teach you knife skills in the privacy of your own home, or come to your office prepared with cooking games for some team building activities.
We love to cook together for audiences and we feed off each other’s energy. And don’t forget, we also specialize in meal prep services. If you’re a busy mom that has no time to cook healthy meals for your family, we can do that for you and even deliver it personally to your doorstep – or if you are considering doing a body physique competition and need a chef to prepare your strict meals for you, we can do that too. As a personal chef service, we cover lots and lots of yummy ground.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I define true success as being truly happy with what you are doing. Simple as that. For myself and for my husband, it is not about money. We just want to enjoy what we do, enjoy each other, and enjoy the lifestyle in which we have chosen for ourselves. We may not be rich, but we are rich in happiness. And it’s because cooking, feeding others and entertaining others brings out the best in each of us. And the fact that we get to do that together as a husband and wife team is just the icing on top!
Contact Info:
- Phone: 404-839-4949
- Email: RadioFoodie@gmail.com
- Instagram: dishing_with_donna
Image Credit:
Spinbird Group
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