Inspiring Conversations with Madison Thomas

Today we’d like to introduce you to Madison Thomas.

Hi Madison, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
The intertwining of our life resume with our work resume is profound. For the lucky ones, it’s why we do what we do.

With that said, my life resume has led me here. I was born with my left leg projected to be one foot shorter than my right leg. This diagnosis led to a total of thirty-two surgeries to lengthen and reconstruct my leg from the age of four to twenty-two. When I was in high school, I finally took some time off from surgeries to get healthy – mentally, physically, and spiritually for the first time in my life. This is what led me to my love of cooking. To eat healthily, I knew the food I wanted to cook needed to be vibrant and fresh. From this, I fell in love with the process of creation and how when you put thought into the colors and textures of your food, it can quickly turn into 3D art you can eat. I was hooked. I slowly learned how to cook from my mom, cookbooks, and watching videos online. I kept learning, but I never had any intention of turning it into a career. I was a business major through and through and had my sight set on commercial real estate.

After I graduated college, I had one last surgery – a total knee replacement. After a tough recovery with some complications, I moved to Nashville as soon as I could walk. Soon after, I started my career in commercial real estate.

Loving the company, people, and work, I was missing a creative outlet and moving my body. I got on Craig’s List and looked under the “odd jobs.” A horrible idea looking back, but I saw an ad for this family looking for help around the house and one of the items listed was meal prep. I was in. I sent in my professional resume, went in for an interview that afternoon after work, and got the job the next day. I started waking up at 5:00 am in the morning to get to their house by 6:00 am to work for them before going into the office at 8:30 am. The more I cooked, the better I got, the more pictures I posted of my food, and the more people started to ask about what I was doing and if I was open to other cooking opportunities. From there, La Mesa 33 was born.

I once asked my mom what her secret was to their thriving 33-year marriage. Her first answer was the grace of God.

The second was family dinners. La Mesa is Spanish for “the table” representing the significance that the Spanish culture has played in my life. My mother was raised in Chile, so long dinners with good food and wine are very much a part of the everyday dinner ritual. 33 represents the significance that the dinner table has played in my parents’ 33-year marriage. She explained to me how when you are intentional about that time, it creates a space for vulnerability and honesty as you walk through life preventing the “drifting away” feeling that so many people experience. Reflecting on this, I saw that redefining the table was my passion, and food was my avenue.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The hardest part of my journey has been not having any professional training. I have had to learn technical things along the way which can present challenges when you are trying to do many tasks in a short period of time.

However, I have overcome this by remembering my “why.” It’s not to produce the fanciest meal although I love the art of it. It’s about bringing people to the table. Remembering this lets me stay focused on the purpose of the dinner.

As you know, we’re big fans of La Mesa 33. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
The dinner table was once a sacred space. A time for communion. Fueling the soul more than the body. Today, the table has become a rushed space of quick food and quick conversation leaving many hungry for more. My passion for the table has been molded since I was a young girl and came to fruition in recent years when I discovered my love for cooking.

La Mesa 33 is a private chef experience for recurring in-home meals or special brunch and dinner parties. The food is centered around a balance of what is good for your body and soul. I specialize in a Mediterranean style of cooking highlighting notes of citrus and fresh herbs, but open to cooking in a flavor profile that suits your desires.

What sets me apart is my mission. My hope is that every person that attends one of my dinners hears the story of why I cook and leaves wanting to bring their own family and friends back to the table. That’s what I am most proud of at the end of the day- using a gift from God to play a small role in shifting the culture of a home through the small act of a meal.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Persistence, curiosity, humility, and confidence.

Pricing:

• $125/hr + cost of food

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.madisonthomas.org/lm33
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_lamesa33/