Help a Passionate Chef Overcome Setbacks and Succeed

If you’re seeing this, you’ve probably witnessed my culinary journey, and likely been a piece of the support that has made it possible. It has been a WILD ride! I’ve shared so many of the highs along the way. I invite you to see my underbelly here, and read the most recent part of my story that I’ve not shared publicly.

It has always been my goal to launch my own concept. I have a precise vision of the brick and mortar restaurant I hope to

open one day, but the financial requirement to do so is quite lofty, and something I foresee working into years in the future. Over the last several years, I made it my mission to work for and learn from the very best in the industry, and am forever grateful to those who allowed me under their wing, in their kitchens, and in their pit rooms, readying me more and more for my ultimate purpose.

I recently had the opportunity to purchase a food truck from a friend in the industry, and was beyond motivated to begin putting the pieces together to make this happen. While still a big financial undertaking, this goal was definitely attainable, and incredibly exciting!

During this time, a 5-year friendship had developed into a romantic relationship. This man had wanted to invest in me years ago, but at the time I wasn’t ready. When I decided to pursue launching the food truck, involving him wasn’t on my radar. But, as I was putting in the work and money to move forward, he offered to partner and invest. I’ve always been hesitant to involve a partner or investor, but as we eased into a business plan, my trust grew. Everything was coming together. Everything I dreamed of and worked so hard for was closer than it had ever been, and it felt tangible. We were both working full-time, around the clock to make this happen. The day before I was scheduled to meet with the seller to exchange funds, funds that this man was putting forward, he priority-mailed me checks. But, what was inside that priority envelope was another envelope, and inside that, was another ripped up envelope. Naturally, at this time, he ghosted me, and blocked me on all social media. I was crushed. I’d never felt so stupid. It had all been a lie. The relationship, the love, the business, the dream. My train had been moving full speed ahead towards my goals, and in a flash it crashed into a brick wall. Thankfully, the only thing he took from me directly was my affection and time, but the time and money I’d invested in the business was spent too, and couldn’t be recovered.

Though I had thrown everything I had into this venture, financially I wasn’t completely desolate. I had just enough to cover my bills for a short period of time. And I had a choice. I could give up on this concept I’d thrown everything into, and wanted more than anything, and get back on the proverbial hamster wheel with no exit ramp in sight and go back to living paycheck to paycheck making someone else’s dream a reality, or I could try one more time to go after mine.

I reached out to a reputable CEO and investor that has been my friend for years, and also someone that had offered to work with me and invest in the past. I told him what had just happened, and asked his professional advice on how to proceed. He listened to my concept, and with excitement and encouragement, and no hesitation, said we could move forward together. Knowing my desire to do this alone, without a partner, he offered to take my business plan to his SBA and other financial institution connections, and assured me not only that we could have me funded in ten days, but that if the banks couldn’t come through on terms that worked for me, he’d fund me himself. What a relief! I could not have been more grateful, or motivated to make this happen.

However, quite a bit of time has passed, and the money I’ve been told has been sent to me hasn’t come. Every day I’m assured it was sent, and I am finding myself right back where I was with the first: bewildered, sad, confused, and, admittedly, a little panicked. The first partner’s actions made sense, but it would make none to me for it to happen with this one. The common denominator is me, though.

I’ve made some incredible mistakes. My regrets in how I’ve gone about this are piling up every day: in trusting the wrong people, but also in keeping my dear friend on the hook in offering to sell me this trailer. I don’t know how or why people lie so elaborately in such harmful ways as my first partner did. I will never know. I don’t want to think my friend, who knows exactly what I’d just gone through, would do the same, and I’m still holding out hope in him. However, with each day being assured to hold out just one more day, and foolishly moving forward in trust, I’ve landed myself in quite a bind. I am not responsible for the choices and actions others make, but I am solely responsible for allowing them to land me where I sit now.

I do believe that things don’t happen to you, they happen FOR you, and as gutting as these last couple of months have been, I am sitting in gratitude. I’ve learned tower-moment lessons. I’ve pulled my vision from a dream, which was particles in the air, to a goal, which is precise and tangible. And, I still have faith: achievable. I also found the courage to get off that hamster wheel, and to bet on and invest in myself.

I am not giving up. I am not a quitter. I am working around the clock, and hustling in every way I know how (and some ways I didn’t know I could). I am also not asking for sympathy or handouts. I want to continue to work my ass off, to cook the food I love, and I want to feed people that love it too. If that means selling tamales and beef jerky at pop-ups, or smoked meats and crafty creations from a food truck, or a elevated dinner service at a brick and mortar one day, it’s all purpose, and it’s all passion.

When I first started typing this gofundme, I was in a better place energetically. I had more faith in finances coming through than I do currently. They may be, but it isn’t looking good. Either way, I have a hole to dig out of and a dream to keep alive. I never wanted it to come to asking publicly for support, and there was a time I’d stood strongly on the fact I’d live in a tent in the woods before I ever did. And I’d make a fine wood witch too. I do know what plants to eat and avoid and I can build fires.

If you can support me by purchasing the foods I’m making, please do so. My goal in all of this is to share my food with you. And those that have, you are so incredibly appreciated! I am not seeking pity or handouts. I do, however, still believe in myself, and in this goal, and I think there may be folks out there who believe in me too. If you feel called to support through this fundraiser, you aren’t donating, you are investing. You will ALWAYS have a seat at my table, and a huge place in my heart. The amount I’ve listed here doesn’t fund the food truck, but it does keep the momentum moving in the right direction, as I will invest it private sales and pop-ups, and it will keep a roof over top while I continue to pursue trustworthy financing for the big stuff. Thank you for your support, in whatever capacity it has been offered. It is everything to me.