My name is Lakee Upshaw and my wife, Shamika, and I are interested in taking our small business to the next level.  We own and operate Chef La's Fish Fry Seafood Grill & Catering in Smyrna, Ga.  There is an interesting story about how Chef La's came to be.  If you ever have a chance to visit us in Smyrna, it is written on the wall...
Our Story...
First of all, they met in NYC on 4/29/11.  Shamika’s family was up visiting from Atlanta/Tampa and wanted to go out. The week before, Shamika and a few friends lounge-hopped around Harlem so she decided to take the family to one of the places they had visited...The Red Rooster. As soon as they arrived and started to dance, she noticed this guy looking at her very hard from across the room. She ignored it at first, thinking he couldn't be too interested since he didn't say anything and plus she was too busy celebrating her promotion to Director of a little known web company called SPORTS ILLUSTRATED! So yes, God is good and she was on cloud nine that night especially with her family in town! A little while later, her mom said something to “him” and then walked away. She later found out that her mom asked if he was hot in his jacket...the place was a tad hot :) At any rate, her comment to him broke the ice and he (Lakee or La) decided to say something to Shamika. The conversation proceeded as follows:

Lakee: Hi there…Where are you from?

Shamika: I'm from New York...the boogie down boo! (with her southern twang)

Lakee: Uh, No you're not. For real, where are you all from?

Shamika: I’m from Atlanta but live in NY - Harlem. My family is visiting from Tampa and Atlanta.

Lakee: Oh yea, I used to live in Atlanta for a while. I’m back in Brooklyn now.

Shamika: Oh yea, I used to live in Brooklyn.

Lakee: What part?

Shamika: Winthrop Ave

Lakee: Oh yea. Well if you lived over there, you probably had some of my fish during the concerts at Wingate. I’m an Executive Chef and have a mobile fish fry business.  

Shamika: Naw - I loooovvvvvve fish so I would have remembered having some of your fish in that area. Fish fry...mobile fish business...Hmmmmm…Wait a minute!!!

Shamika Reminiscing To Lakee: I met a guy over a year ago in Atlanta. I was at one of my favorite fish restaurants - where I always go to get fish when I am in Atlanta. This guy mentioned that New York had the best fish. I immediately told him that I live in NY and it does not have the best fish. The fish is not seasoned right, has too much pepper...I have to come to Atlanta to get good fish. He then says to me, you must be crazy...you have to get in touch with my friend - he has a mobile fish business and he has the best fish. I will give you his number so that you can reach out when you are in New York. Blah Blah Blah...

Shamika (Overly Excited): Can you just give me your phone number!!!

Lakee: [phone redacted]

Shamika (while pressing the correct digits and pushing send on phone): OMG!!!!!!!! Your number is already saved in my phone! Is it "Lake"? (while showing him the phone)

Lakee: Ugh, No, it has 2 E's...Its L-A-K-E-E

Shamika: That was your friend I met over a year ago in Atlanta. What are the chances of that??!?!?!?

Lakee: I remember that, why didn't you ever call?

They knew then that their meeting was Divine Order – no one but God could orchestrate such a feat. Shamika knew that Lakee was either going to be her business partner, her husband, or both and she told her family that very night. With her love of food and cooking, she has always wanted to own a restaurant...She meets an Executive Chef. Fish is her favorite food...She can eat it every day of the week...She meets an Executive Chef with a mobile fish fry business. She met a man who was after her heart, who shared her philosophy on life, on relationships...he regurgitated everything she had ever said she wanted in a mate...it was as if God put a mirror in front of her. He sent her someone that she can build with, someone she can see as the head of her family...someone she loves and who definitely loves her back! And now - here they are back in the ‘A’ as both husband and wife & business partners! They were married 4/29/12 – a year to the day of their meeting and now their passions have collided to start Chef La’s Fish Fry Seafood Grill & Catering. Isn’t God Good…All The Time!  

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The story goes on to thank our customers and ask them to follow us to see where God takes us next!  Hence why we are here.  In 2013, we created a beverage we call our Peach Lemonade.  It is consistently the highest selling item in our restaurant and customers constantly rave about it on Yelp and in other reviews.  In 2014, we entered and won The Taste of Marietta's Award for Tastiest Beverage.  We believe that our Peach Lemonade is delicious and we would love to share it with the world.

As you can see, our faith is strong and it is our belief that God says we can all have whatever our hearts desire.  So why not just ask?????

We are asking all family, friends, well-wishers, and believers to help us secure funding to cover the cost of formulating, packaging, and finding a distributor for our Peach Lemonade.  We have talked to a few beverage companies to gauge expectations and pricing but do not want to form a partnership until we have the funds to move from concept to production.

Please help fund our project so that we can bring this wonderful beverage to life!