Today we’d like to introduce you to Verchona Walker.
Hi Verchona, I’m so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, how can you bring our readers up to speed on your story? How did you get to where you are today?
Growing up, I paid much attention to how food connected family and people. My passion for cooking, however, began as a child sitting in my aunt’s kitchen on Saturday evenings. I grew up in a time when Sunday dinners were epic and the driving force of our family unit. Our Sunday dinners consisted of at least two proteins, four to five sides, and a minimum of two desserts. Yes, sitting in my aunt’s kitchen on a Saturday evening was indeed one of the most magical places in the world to me. She made it seem so effortless. Truthfully, it wasn’t the food preparation that fascinated me most, it was the amount of love that went into creating such a meal and the love it instilled in us when gathering. I took that same pride and enjoyment when I had a family. After many years of requests from family and friends to make various dishes for them and true delusions of grandeur, I decided to turn my love for creating food into a business.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
To say something is “easy” or a “smooth road” comes from perception. This has been a journey with many learning curves along the way. With the curves, I was able to find myself in my brand. There was much reevaluating and reassessing what we wanted the brand to be. It has been a process for sure. I officially established my business in December of 2018. It was doing well and off to a great start. The business was certainly taking off. Just as we were gaining momentum, the entire world stopped. Times were not romantic, and much like most small business owners during the pandemic, we were also drastically affected by the economic change. Quarantine restrictions and the overwhelming fear of increased health concerns left us little choice but to shut down completely. Covid gave us time and opportunity to grow and develop as a brand. We changed our entire trajectory and discovered our particular niche in the process. Growth doesn’t occur when you dwell in comfortable spaces. I wouldn’t necessarily use the term “struggle”. Being an entrepreneur is more like finding your way through a maze, or putting together a jigsaw puzzle nobody ever told you had a million pieces. You know how you want the finished product to look, but getting all the pieces to fit together is part of the experience.
We’ve been impressed with Hedonist Foodie, but for folks who might need to be more familiar, what can you share about what you do and what sets you apart?
The definition of a hedonist is someone who indulges in the finer things in life. There are no finer things than you: your time, family, peace of mind, and happiness. Here at Hedonist Foodie, we do the work so you can relax and enjoy the moment. We take a rustic approach to curating food and experiences tailored for our clients individually. We are a small, locally owned catering company. We specialize in corporate boxed lunch meals, gathering boards, and catering services for small events, elopement ceremonies, and micro weddings.
Our mission is sustainability and building community. We uphold this mission by:
- Building strong family and community bonds by using art, music, and food. Making the connection between the history of food as it relates to our culture and family infrastructure.
- Maintaining an internal ethics system by sourcing products from local farms and locally owned businesses, providing a revenue stream that will contribute to the overall local economy, and using reusable and recyclable packaging to help promote environmental awareness.
What matters most to you?
I have been privileged and fortunate to be surrounded by a phenomenal support system in the form of family and friends who have become family. They are the roots of my existence and my constant reason for gratitude. I believe that the things that matter most to me are enjoying the small details in life, being mindful of those around me, and the time I have been granted to do all three.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.thehedonistfoodie.com/
- Instagram: thehedonistfoodie
- Facebook: The Hedonist Foodie
