We’re looking forward to introducing you to Tammy Lynn-King. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Tammy, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? Would YOU hire you? Why or why not?
Why would I not hire me? With my theme loving upbeat personality, endless creativity, passion for what I do and a delicious menu; I would absolutely hire me. I love to take someone’s vision and bring it to life with a delicious menu centered around a fabulous presentation.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am Tammy Lynn-King aka LuLu. I have 10 years of experience feeding the masses at all types of events. I offer a large assortment of mouth watering dishes. I personally have developed multiple food allergies that allows me to offer a full menu accommodating gluten free, vegan, vegetarian and other dietary needs. LuLu’s was doing grazing tables before they were all the rage and we continue to offer stunning tables for every occasion.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
My grandparents taught me a lot about hard work since the very beginning. I grew up on a 200 acre farm right here in Tennessee. I was my Grandfather’s shadow as much as I was allowed and learned about running a farm, caring for animals and growing crops to not only feed us but feed our animals as well. When I wasn’t with Grandpa I was at my Grandma’s elbow cooking and gardening. She cooked three meals a day for all of us and the farm hands that worked with my Grandpa. I learned a lot about cooking for a crowd from scratch using mostly ingredients that came from our farm. My Grandpa always told me something I have never forgotten: “A lot of things can be taken from you in this old world but they can never take your good name and who you are from you” I didn’t understand then but now I know he was talking about honesty, integrity, hard work and how all these speak volumes about the kind of person you are.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
I am a survivor of bullying and domestic abuse. That hard work I just talked about helped me move beyond these wounds and begin to build the life I finally felt deserving of.
After I had begun to move away from all this, I found out I had breast cancer. I was terrified at first but I made up my mind that I was going to survive this too. Keeping a positive attitude was absolutely the best way I was able to heal. Afterward I felt as if I had been given another chance at life and that I was not going to waste it. I realized it was time to go for what I’d wanted all along.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
I am pretty much a what you see is what you get kind of person. I believe if you are kind, honest, and fair to everyone there is no need to pretend to be something you are not. The sense of humor and passion for my work are with me all the time. I have learned a lot of diplomacy being a small business owner but you will always know where I stand when we are working together.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I believe quite possibly I am doing what I was born to do. I always enjoyed cooking with my Grandma when I was little but then she passed, I grew up, went off to school and have gone through so many different jobs in so many different industries but somehow always gravitating back to something in food and hospitality. The catering business I have now was not something I actively pursued in the beginning but it grew into an actual career path for me. It comes easy and naturally. It has also turned out to be a business I can apply everything I learned from all the other jobs.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.luluscateringandevents.com
- Instagram: lulus_catering_and_events
- Facebook: LuLu’s
- Yelp: LuLu’s Catering
Image Credits
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