Today we’d like to introduce you to Mellarie Thomas.
Alright, thank you for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
Honestly, Tommy Wong started long before now! My husband’s mom began teaching him to cook when he was about 3 years old when she woke up to the sweet smell of breakfast cooking and went into the kitchen to see what was going on, only to find him on a chair in front of the stove making his own meal! He cooked quite frequently for his family before entering the military at age 17 and it was during this time that he created his first seasoning blend. Mom had high blood pressure and all the popular seasonings lined her cabinet shelves – the garlic salt, onion salt, seasoning salt. He confiscated them and his blend took their place.
Fast forward – My husband took chicken sandwiches for lunch one day and his co-workers refused to believe he made them! They pretty much demanded to know where he bought them; they had to come from a restaurant! So he finally gave in and told them he got them from “Tommy Wong,” a fictional restaurant and a play on his last name “Thomas”.
When I first tasted Tommy Wong wings in 2009 I asked the same question as his co-workers and my reaction was the same! I eventually gave in as well and said ok…you need to be selling this stuff because it is GOOD! Our blended family has been enjoying them ever since. My kids somehow forgot that I’d been cooking for them their entire lives and constantly asked when he would make more wings. They were a hit!
As “Tommy Wong” wings were shared with family and friends over the years at parties and gatherings, they soon became a fan favorite. We contemplated starting a food truck a few times, but that never materialized. In April 2020, I decided it was time to get the ball rolling! I was ready to quit my job but hadn’t gotten to the point where I was comfortable letting it go so thought we could do it part time. We did our first vendor fair in May, 2020 at my alma mater Cardinal Ritter College Prep. The response confirmed that we were moving in the right direction!
We had to trust that what we had in our hands would work. We already knew we had a great product because anyone who’s ever had “Tommy Wong” wings still talks about them. We put our heads and skills together and our desire to begin creating something of our own that we could pass down to our children and Tommy Wong Select Premium Seasonings & Sauces was born.
We now have 4 season-all blends – our Original Signature Blend, Smokey Garlic, Jalapeño Lime, and a popcorn/fry seasoning that you can cook with. We also have 3 sauce blends – Mind Blowin’ Medium, Srira-Cha-Cha, and Hold up…It’s Hot! We are currently partnering with a local manufacturer to get our sauce bottled and retail ready.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
We have learned so much in such a short time and it has a whirlwind, but pretty smooth for the most part. Using my past experience in craft fairs and business, we determined the best way to get started and things have progressed nicely from there. We are in the process of switching to new packaging and we have already redesigned our labels. We struggle with space as we currently operate out of our home, but we are utilizing what we have to the best of our ability. We have added work tables and shelving in our dining room and kitchen and I joked (not joking) with my husband that we could move all the furniture out and use folding chairs and tables to make room for our business until we have our own space. We love what we are doing and our customers. We wouldn’t trade it for anything!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Tommy Wong Select Premium Seasonings & Sauces? What do you specialize in? What sets you apart from others?
Our products are super easy to use, versatile, and affordable. Use them to level up almost any meal – no need to try to figure out what spices to mix or worry over what to use on this or that. If you know nothing about seasonings or cooking you can use any one of our blends on any meat, seafood, potatoes, veggies, eggs – even tofu! Grill, fry, bake, air fry, pan sear – use whatever method you choose and have a flavorful experience your family will thank you for!
What we are most proud of:
We are most proud of being woman-owned, black-owned, and veteran-owned. Many talented, creative people in our community deserve the chance to build a legacy for their families. We are humbled by our relationships with our customers, fellow vendors, and small business owners. We are proud of our babies – the kids and teens who love our products, can cook with them because they are so easy to use, and take a little pressure off Mom and Dad – that’s priceless!
So, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you before we go? How can they support you?
Your readers can connect with us to purchase products or ask any questions they may have via email at tommywongselect@gmail.com and on our social media pages listed below. We are working on our website but watch for it at www.tommywongselect.square.
Current Pricing (transitioning to shakers):
- 8 oz. Season-All – Tub $6; Shaker $7.50
- 16 oz. Season-All – Tub $10; Shaker $12
- 8 oz. Popcorn Seasoning – $8.50
- 16 oz. Popcorn Seasoning – $13.50
- Lots more products coming soon!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @tommy_wong_select
- Facebook: https://www.
facebook.com/tommywongselect - LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mellarie-e-
thomas-tommywongselect - Phone: 314-659-9329
