Meet Marcus & LaWanda Kirkland of Q-Zeens in Metro Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marcus & LaWanda Kirkland.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Marcus & LaWanda. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Marcus Kirkland:

After traveling, abroad in the United States Navy I relocated from San Diego, California to Atlanta, Georgia at the end of 2005. My outlook on food especially “soul food” was different after experiencing the different types of entrées from the countries I visited during my time in the service. I discovered that “soul food” exists in every culture and I began to realize how much I loved the art and soul of food.

When I landed in Atlanta, it was behind a desk and not in a kitchen, so on my off time from my corporate job I would do private dinners but that was not enough. I had a desire to know more and to learn more, within a year, I enrolled in Culinary School and I was on fire I just wanted to create great food.

In 2008 I took my first full time Chef position as a Private Chef for a family here in Atlanta, it was like a dream come true.

However, it was not the end of my dream, I later began to cater for private foundations and private parties for executives, celebrities, and athletes, and I worked as a personal Chef in private estates. I wanted to make food that I loved, I wanted to bring people my cuisine, and so it was official Q-Zeens “Private Estate Catering” was born, but The Company still had some growing to do, and what God had planned was too big for me to do alone…

LaWanda Kirkland:

Coming from a small town in Louisiana food has always had a place in my heart but not in my career. That did not stop me from hosting and catering events for friends and family members whenever needed. I knew being a chef was knocking at my door I just was not expecting love to come with it.

Marcus and I met each other at church in 2009, he jokes all the time about how “I didn’t like him” and I smile each time he says it. We developed a friendship based on jokes and our unique way of greeting each other, he would bow and I would do a curtsy. For four years, our friendship grew and in on a Friday night June of 2013 our friendship reached a new level that would set us on a journey surrounded by love and food.

New clients and friends ask the question “what came first the business or the relationship” often and the answer may surprise many. They happened at the same time, we knew God put us together for a purpose not even a month into our relationship and I knew my purpose was to make sure Marcus did not have to do it alone, on June 29th we got married and the fun really began.

So how did we become Q-Zeens? We began the deconstruction of one company and the branding, building, and development process of “our” company, which we titled Q-Zeens. Our number one goal was to develop a company that focuses on not just the food but also the experience, which create moments that make memories.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, it has not been the smoothest road, we would say that legitimizing ourselves as one of the Elite Caterers in Atlanta was challenging at the beginning and connecting with people that not only love what we do but also are willing to invest in the experience.

Please tell us about Q-Zeens.
What do you do?
Full Service Event Catering

What do you specialize in?
We specialize in Corporate Affairs, Fine Dining, Weddings, and Private Events hosted by Q-Zeens

What are you known for?
1) We connect with our vendors, it is very important to us to put our hands on everything that comes into the kitchen it’s how/why we guarantee the quality of Service,

2) The detail in our presentation and our events. We always want to make sure the event is beautiful but we want to make sure we consider the needs of each guest that attend the event. We want you to know we thought of you that’s why interacting with our clients is so important.

3) Food Fusion / Theme Menus Whether it’s our Smoked Collard Green Egg Rolls fusing our love for Asian cuisine and our passion for southern foods or we could show you six ways to serve a sweet potato. We want to have fun with our food.

What are you most proud of as a company?
Our private events that we host each year: Honoring Mom “A Mother’s Day Brunch”, Bowties & BBQ for Dads, and Our Table & More “A Valentine’s Day Affair”, Along with our annual Thanksgiving Promotion which allow clients to purchase meals from Q-Zeens for the holidays.

What sets you apart from others?
Our “Casual Luxury” experience that reflects our unique culinary motif, we enjoy interacting with our guest and we want them to know it is an honor to serve them. This is our passion and we want to share that with you when we cook for you.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Marcus Kirkland:
When I was about about nine my father got me a “Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse Cookbook”, I remember looking through it and thinking how can I make this food. After searching through the book for a few days, I finally picked out my first recipe to make “Wonderland Pancakes” from scratch with the help of my dad and older brother I got up early in the morning to make breakfast. My first experience cooking was a family experience that I laugh about today.

LaWanda Kirkland:
My PawPaw was great in the kitchen he cooked for our family events, weddings, and every Sunday for family dinner not as a profession but because he loved doing it. I remember one Thanksgiving being in the kitchen standing beside him at the counter, at over six feet he was a giant little old me at the age of six. He was making sweet potato pies, I can still remember seeing him filling the pies and as I watched every move he made in the kitchen. At that moment I thought to myself I want to do that one day.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.qzeens.com
• Phone: 770 – 899 – 0564
• Email: information@qzeens.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/qzeens/
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/qzeens/
• Yelp: www.yelp.com/biz/q-zeens-smyrna

Image Credit:
Q-Zeens LLC.
BeauTies Events Design & Draping