Rising Stars: Meet Marcus Lewis of Warner Robins

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marcus Lewis/

Hi Marcus , it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?

I been having this dream and passion for cooking since I was 12 yr old. I’m originally from Miami, Fl and my background is my mom’s side is Bahamian and my dad’s side from Alabama, so I’m a Bahama lol. Cooking has been my dream and I would cook at every event my family had. Time went on to me working on restaurants and just selling for from home. I had a great Bahamian recipe for Conch fritter and Conch salad from my dad and grandfather. To move forward, back in 2016, I was living in Tallahassee and got sick and moved back to Miami, I was in desperate need of looking for work. I gave up smoking marijuana and focused on my relationship with God. I started working on my business name and getting some of my old customers back. I decided to make a food sale and it was a hit. I made 2500 in one day the turnaround and the next day I made 1600. So right then and I knew for a fact it was on and popping, I was getting ready to start Cookinlew Mouth-watering foods. Then I start working for Miami Dade County as a cook one at a Country club where I made dreams come true I put a smile on people’s faced when They ate my delicious food country club was empty until I worked and it went up from there. Then I also work with Broward county schools as a General cook my food service happen for the kids and special diets and dietary restrictions. Then I jumped in love with my middle school sweetheart and relocated to Warner Robins, Ga. This is where I started HEARTY SOUL FOOD, the reason for the name is because I wanted people to eat healthy, soulful food like grandma cooked but with healthy but great tasting substitute. I started to do a couple of catering for birthdays and anniversaries. While doing all that, I wanted to give back so since I worked for the school board, I went to all the schools I worked and picked individual kids that’ was having a hard time. One young lady caught my heart because she was looking ruff and no one really paid her attention. So I got with the counselor to see what’s her story. Well, she was going through it with her mom and she was not living home at the time and really living out of her car. So I made sure she had a great Christmas I gave her a $25 gas card and $20 Chick-fil-A card and some hygiene items and a card telling god will make a way trust in him, love him and stay focus in school it was her last year. I just try to bless people because I was blessed. At the time, I was going to school myself to get my culinary degree so I can better serve my customers. See dealing with food and customer is an art that makes you feel like Maya Angelo in the kitchen and Billy D Williams in baking. Trying to get a business started is not easy and it shows who’s in your corner still today, my wife has been my backbone in pushing me and keeping my spirits up. By me moving to GA it’s kinda hard with people in this area only wanting country food so if I’m going to do a southern dish, then it’s going to have my spin on it with love!!! I feel I can’t work for restaurants because of my passion and the way I see them handling food and customer sickening me so I’m going to do my own thing god has a plan for me. Now I’m working as a Cook for the VA in Dublin, Ga feed the Veterans and giving them some restaurants style food while they are in the hospital. I hope this information I gave you will be helpful or I hope I haven’t gotten of topic. Thank you so much for the opportunity!!!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

It’s hasn’t been a smooth struggle are trying to be my customer base back up. Moving from Miami, I had a big fan base now that I’m in Ga I really have to start over and a lot of people are wishy-washy.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?

I’m a Cook at the VA. I’m known for baking great cakes and making food live musically in your mouth, lol. I’m most proud of graduating and being able to land a Federal government job paying awesome and being recognized by the chief of multiple VA and still say he loves my cooking he come all the way to Dublin to get my chicken and waffles. What set me apart is my love of cooking my push to see people fall in love what there eating. I make music when I’m cooking some people cook to cook. I cook to see people say, man, my mama or grandma would slap me if I tell them this tastes better than their cooking. I do all and everything from scratch.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?

My family has been there from the beginning and my friend’s great support. The most and best supporting person is and still is my wife, Varyn Lewis this young woman has help me through it all and she showed me that no matter what baby you are and have greatness all over you. You make people smile with your personality and your cooking mix together. She knows what to say to me when something I cook that I feel hasn’t come out right, she takes it and go sell it and boom it’s sold. I love her to the moon and back.

Contact Info:

• Email: marcus23hot@gmail.com
• Instagram: Cheflew
• Facebook: Cookinlew