Today we’d like to introduce you to Ava Tyler.
Hi Ava, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Well what got my interest in cooking was my grandmother I used to sit in the kitchen while she was cooking I always wanted to sit with her as time passed I just didn’t know where my life was heading untill one day I was in the projects out south nashville I was getting something out of car she kinda came outta nowhere she asked me could she hold my hands I’m like who is this lady (in my head lol) but I said yes ma’am she took them and told me I had a gift and I’ll use my hands I’ll be prosperous I mean I could always cook but I never thought of it as a career. My generation was told you need to go to college to be something I was always like I’m not going to college for nothing I’m going for something that I really wanna do so went and enrolled to Nashville State Community College and I entered the Culinary Program ….I learned so much I got my technical degree and started selling plates out of my home as I realized people really loved my food I wanted to do more I always wanted a food truck but in-between my family supported me by helping me start catering and from there it took off I finally got my food trailer I had it for 4 years then I sold it because I knew there was more for me I started advertising myself as a private chef and once again everything took off so now I cater and do private parties but I still felt like it was still more out there for me. So I started manifesting that I wanted to be a private chef for celebrities. At this point I’m praying and asking God what was my next move I was told patience and if anyone knows me I’m everything but that lol but I did just that I seen a couple off a show I love called Love after lock up was coming to Nashville it was also their anniversary so out of faith I was thinking they wouldn’t even see the message I checked my inbox and low and behold they wrote back I called them we set up a day I came I cooked they loved it I also made them a cake. Then the network owner Neek of Makin Music Network said she wanted to add a cooking sediment to the network I prayed on it I showed initiative and sent her what my vision is that I have for myself she was very pleased with everything I presented the first thing i want to start is putting out a cook book of my recipes. Then check my email to this interview opportunity. My heart is smiling I feel like its up for me and my business
Pretty Lady Catering that I been running 10 years
I’m just a little brown girl with a dream and a legacy for my now 21 year old daughter who is also a chef and I don’t mean to toot my on horn but she is a chip off the old block lol it makes me very proud how far she has come she teaches me so many things as well
I really appreciated this opportunity
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?
It definitely has not been easy to when I first started out I took anything to get the experience but as I learned and grew I started to charge more people then wanna lo ball you but I’ve gotten to the point where I know my worth and I will be paid for that
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in upscale soul food I feel like it should look as good as it taste
I cater and I’m a private chef , and now I’m adding Baker to that lately I’ve been specializing in cake and it has been great
I’m proud of my growth how my food as evolved and how I’m still learning more daily, I am a from scratch chef!
Wel when it comes to Pretty Lady Catering I love to do personal pieces for my customer a keep sake from the day
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I’m a prime believer that what you put into the universe is what your gonna get back I feel like “luck” is simply just favor the favor I know God has over my life and what is ment for me will always come for me
My faith is what gets me through everything without it I’m nothing
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @PRETTYLADYCATERING00
- Facebook: @AvasoulfoodPlates
