SOCIAL WORKER TURNED CHEF
I have started from scratch over and over again in the past 5 years of my entrepreneurship journey. Year 6 is approaching and I need your help to keep making it all happen. I have invested all of my life savings and my income is not consistent yet. I have promoted the Chef Lioness brand relentlessly on social media. Here is my story.
My name is Jennifer Corporan aka Chef Lioness the #SOCIALWORKERTURNEDCHEF.
In August of 2016, I graduated from culinary school 2 days before my 30th birthday.
On July 5, 2017, I leaped into entrepreneurship after 9 years in the human services field. With just 6K in savings as a single woman living in NYC, faith and extreme passion to feed others. I knew I wanted to expose individuals all over the world to Authentic Dominican and fusion cuisine.
I began selling lunch plates and catering small gatherings. In January of 2018 I took on a full-time job as a catering line attendant in corporate America making $17/hr. It was my first time in corporate America. I was there to feed employees for breakfast and lunch. I gained my first celebrity client while there, learned about the corporate culinary world and most importantly realized I was meant to work for myself creating & serving my recipes. I was allowed one recipe in my time there which became a best-selling item. Avocado toast.
In Feb of 2019, I was presented with the opportunity to be the head chef at a Dominican restaurant in my hometown, Washington Heights. I had no clue how to run a restaurant kitchen, I just knew this was a time to create and put out my dishes. A week after my 4 day trial, I put my resignation letter in and leaped. 2 weeks later, the restaurant closed due to a debt of unpaid taxes I was unaware of.
In May of 2019, I began a new venture with a fellow entrepreneur. Together, we created Dancin Tastebuds. I had full creative control to serve my authentic Dominican and fusion creations 5 times a week in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Finally, here I am doing it my way. I worked my ass off, in every role, from prep, cook, taking orders, developing menus, marketing, clean-up and everything in between. The whole time there I lived off of tips. We were making just enough funds to cover rent and the cost of food for the upcoming week. Three weeks after being recognized as the “Deli Influencer” by the New York Post, COVID closed our doors after 10 months of service.
2020-2022 was spent focusing on my fitness, eating habits, healing from trauma, grieving, writing, and exploring my talents on a deeper level. Being as intentional as possible with what I wanted to provide next to the world. By this time I had explored a multitude of work in the world of culinary. From private chef, to high-end catering, to serving fast food and so much more.
In 2022 I leaped again. I knew traveling would be bigger than ever and I no longer desired to be where winter existed. I began to grow the Chef Lioness brand internationally in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. I did not have any family or many friends there but had known one friend who welcomed me into his home temporarily. A 40-day trip turned into 5 months. I struggled plenty. I was homeless for some time and survived on bread and butter. In my time there, I was able to observe, network, build community, and most importantly figure out how I would be an asset to the locals and tourists there.
In May of 2022, I was diagnosed with uterine fibroids for the second time. This led to months of painful cycles and non-stop bleeding. My anemia worsened, I had constant headaches, severe depression and lost so much blood I needed a blood transfusion. In December, I finally obtained a fibroid embolization which put me on bed rest for almost a month. Throughout these months I still managed to become Zumba certified, train and teach at a non-profit organization without compensation.
Present day, January 2023, currently with Covid as I type this. All funds/accounts are depleted. I’ve invested all I ever saved for this life. Almost lost my co-op over it recently. I keep showing up. My faith remains intact in what I am building but I need YOUR help.
I plan to be on tour this year continuously growing the brand and exposing people from all over the world to Dominican Fusion Cuisine and Chef Lioness Vibes. A therapeutic freestyle singing & dance class created to empower, heal, release and bring out the joy in you.
I will be in Punta Cana, from March- July to provide private chef services, cooking and fitness classes. I will also be feeding the homeless children as often as I can while I am there. I will be taking this same blueprint to different states, cities and countries.
I need funds to keep making it all happen. The list of expenses for this journey is endless. From marketing, food supplies, living arrangements, staff to assist me….the list goes on. Every dollar counts.
Thank you for your time. Please share this. My main Instagram page was hacked in 2021 which was Lionesscuisine. I have not been able to get it back but you can find me on @lionesscuisinellc and @Dancintastebuds.
Feel free to visit my website for more on all the services I offer and social media platforms. www.lionesscuisine.com
