STL’s Pot Chef creator Arica Avery shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Arica, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
People often misunderstand the ‘vibe’ of what we do. They think a cannabis food event is just a disorganized basement party with mediocre food. But if you look at the Munchie Market, we have major sponsors like Weedmaps and Mighty Kind, and we’re featured in St. Louis Magazine & Sauce Magazine. We partnered with award winning Chefs & creatives to marry cannabis and culinary arts together. Over this past year we’ve given out of $3K in cash to winners of our competitions. My business is rooted in hospitality and education. It’s about guests (foodie fam) feel elevated and inspired through cannabis infused foods and snacks, not just ‘knocked out.’ It’s a sophisticated social experience, not a stereotype.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Arica Avery, founder of STL’s Pot Chef and owner of Beam Photos & Production. I’m a creative entrepreneur at heart—equal parts foodie, storyteller, and community builder.
With STL’s Pot Chef, I curate cannabis-infused culinary experiences that go way beyond just “getting high.” It’s about elevated food, intentional vibes, and bringing people together through culture, creativity, and really good eats. From intimate dinners to large-scale competitions and markets, every event is designed to feel welcoming, high-quality, and rooted in community. What makes it special? We center local chefs, small businesses, and authentic experiences—no copy-paste events, no cookie-cutter vibes.
On the visual side, Beam Photos & Production is where I help brands tell their stories through photography, video, and interactive experiences like our photo booths & 360 photo booths. I’ve worked with businesses, organizations, and events across St. Louis, helping them show up polished, professional, and memorable—because presentation matters.
At the core of everything I do is connection. I’m passionate about creating platforms where creatives can win, communities can gather, and experiences actually mean something. Right now, I’m focused on expanding cannabis culinary experiences, building stronger local and corporate partnerships, and continuing to push the culture forward—intentionally, creatively, and unapologetically.
Basically: good food, good visuals, good people… and we’re just get
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who taught you the most about work?
My father (Charles Avery) has taught me the most about work. He is the hardest working person I know while still finding a way to be present and connected in a beautiful way. He taught me to committ to being the best at everything you do and honor God in what you do and he success will follow. I’ve lived by this my entire life. I’m grateful to have someone in my life to show me these things.
What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
used to think I had to do everything myself to prove I was serious, capable, and deserving of the seat I built. I learned the hard way that burnout isn’t a badge of honor—it’s a warning sign.
Failing hard taught me that doing it alone actually slows the vision down. Now I move differently. I delegate, I collaborate, and I protect my energy like it’s part of the budget—because it is. The work got better, the experiences got bigger, and I stopped confusing struggle with success.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
That everyone is about community… and that success has to look the same.
A lot of the cannabis and creative event space loves to say “community” while moving in competition, gatekeeping, or straight-up idea-lifting. Collaboration gets talked about more than it actually gets practiced. If we were more focused on building together instead of copying each other, the whole city—and industry—would move faster.
Another big lie? That bigger automatically means better. More sponsors, more money, more noise doesn’t equal better experiences. The magic is in intention, quality, and respect for the culture. The brands and events that last are the ones that actually care about the people in the room—not just the numbers on a flyer.
In short: community isn’t a caption, and growth without integrity is just noise.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. How do you know when you’re out of your depth?
When I am out of my depth of understanding. I usually stop and pray to God for guidance then allow my faith to continue to lead me through this time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.stlpotchefs.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stlpotchef/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PotChefBackupPage
Image Credits
Image credits Beam Photos & Production for STL’s Pot Chef.
