Today we’d like to introduce you to Chef Qui Lockett.
Chef Qui, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My career started briefly after I graduated from the art institute of Atlanta school where I was offered a position as Sous Chef of the Charlotte Bobcats now known as the Hornets. In those positions, I had the opportunity to work with some elite clients such as Micheal Jordan and the Obamas during the Democratic convention. While there I started to compete and place in local and national culinary competitions including Food networks “Cutthroat Kitchen.” Next, I began work as a Traveling Chef leading VIP areas for Sporting events such as The PGA tournament series, USTA tennis tournaments and Nascar. Through Building relationships in the industry, I landed a role as Executive Chef of Zoo Atlanta where I ran the catering department and with my team executed flawless events for Mercedes, Northside hospital, City officials and created tasteful menus for the zoo’s own ,Art gone wild, Sip and see and my favorite 50 shades of wild. I went on to work for Delta Tech ops but struggled to keep focus after experiencing postpartum depression.
For me, it was a struggle to see the vision, so I left and began working for a smaller company. There, I thought I could maintain an income and still work on getting through the depression, however, the universe had other plans for me and I was fired within a year. So, I decided to take that leap of faith a start my own company. With the support of my dad as Sous Chef and a 50 dollar gift card, I received after making a return to walmart I started my First Taco Tuesday. That first day, we started in my two bedroom apartment in what seemed like the smallest kitchen ever and sold 12 meals that day. Twelve turned in to 30 and now, we are doing at least 40-50 deliveries in a 2-hour span. We currently have a catering kitchen that produces our corporate catering, event catering, and vending to several local convenience stores and food marts. We offer consulting and gigs to those Chefs and catering groups who are just starting because I know all too well how hard it can be just to leap ans how important it is to have someone in your corner.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Not at all, I’ve had to learn not only how to keep the vision when things got hard, but how to make things happen as far as having the money to buy the food when sales were not met the day prior. Had to learn how to operate with very limited staff, and when we first started not having the kitchen space to run a full-service mobile catering group. My advice is to stay strong and physically work through it because the greatest teacher is experience and the hardest tasks only make you stronger and more equipment. If you don’t have a mentor, find one and if you have one then make it two, one that feeds you mental and spiritually and another in your craft you have come through what you are going through.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Chefs For All Seasons – what should we know?
Chefs For All Seasons is a full-service catering group network specializing in corporate and event catering along with vending services providing GREAT FOOD and Service to our clients by connecting newly established chefs and caterers to hungry eaters.
We promote community, support, and most importantly security for newly established caterers
Finding a mentor and building a network are often cited in studies as a major factor impacting one’s success. Do you have any advice or lessons to share regarding finding a mentor or networking in general?
Having a mentor is a vital key im my success. It is important to have those knowledge people to lean on when challenges try to blur your vision. Usually it’s a connection that brings you both together I have mentors who have been apart of my life for 10 years and others who are new in n my life but the one thing common to them all is their investment in my success and growth as a business woman and overall person.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 7702311235
- Email: info@chefquiquisine.com
- Instagram: @chefqui
- Facebook: Qui Lockett
Image Credit:
Shottereal productions
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