Community Highlights: Meet Iyana Harrell of Tootsies Pastries N Thngz

Today we’d like to introduce you to Iyana Harrell. 

Iyana, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Hi! My name is Iyana but many call me Chef Yanie. I am currently a Culinary NCO in the United States Army stationed out of Ft Campbell. Transitioning out of the Army to become a mom-preneur, I have always had the passion to cook for everyone I come into contact with. I’ve always been on a journey to figure out what my passion is and it has always come back to cooking. Truly believing food can bring people together and make even the coldest hearts warm I decided November 2021 to make homemade pies for soldiers that were not able to return home for the Thanksgiving holiday. To my surprise, it was a huge hit not to only the soldiers but to friends and family. Cooking soul food always came super easy to me and now I had finally realized baking was a big hit too! From that point on I decided to look into how I could get even more people to enjoy what I’ve grown such a passion for. January 2022, I took that leap of faith and started to put all of my free time into creating my now business Tootsies Pastries N Thngz. I am excited to see this next chapter of my life with Tootsies take off! 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Being so passionate about something you are putting all of your time and energy into can be very frustrating because you want everything to be perfect. I have so much I want to do with this business and I feel like there’s not enough time in the day to accomplish it all. I’m learning to take one step at a time and be patient. Getting myself known and branding have been my setbacks. But I’ve always loved the saying you build it and they will come! 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Tootsies specializes in catering anywhere from small intimate meals and corporate events. All the way to meal prepping for the everyday individuals on the go or those that have had a long day and just want a home-cooked meal. We are known for our delicious pastries and savory home-cooked dinners. Tootsies is more than just about making a profit; it’s about building relationships and making sure that everyone experiences sustenance for the soul. 

What does success mean to you?
I define success as being able to do something you love and not only benefit from your experiences but being able to bless someone else in the process! 

Pricing:

• Cheesecake $31…+Topping $5
• Homemade Pies $23
• Homemade Compotes…$13 for 8oz
• Meal Preps…$12
• Dinner Meals…$25 and up

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.tootsiespastriesnthngz.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefyanie/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TootsiesPnT/