My Chef Story

I am Caden, a passionate chef with a special interest in the education of the culinary arts and curation of beautiful memories through food. 

 

At 10 years old, I vividly remember being in Boy Scouts cooking a meal for my troop. I felt like I found my place. Food became a connector for me. I remember how we connected around a table for all of the important moments in my life. 

 

From then, my passion just grew. I poured myself into books from talented chefs through the decades while I worked at local restaurants through my younger years, soaking up as much knowledge as I could. I soon wanted more. So at 18, I packed up my things and moved to New York to go to the C.I.A…not that one, The Culinary Institute of America. There I found mentors who nurtured my curiosity and honed in my skills to become a well-rounded chef.

 

Chef Roshara Sanders, an unforgettable mentor of mine, was the first black woman to teach at the CIA and I felt honored to learn from her. She came from a military background so her teaching style mirrored her high standards and strict upbringing, pushing me to grow and hold myself to a high standard, too. She taught me many of the fundamentals I still use in my craft today. Another meaningful professor of mine, Chef O'Reilly, taught me the business operations side of cheffing. His ability to connect with people and food helped me find my voice in the kitchen. 

 

While in New York, I got more hands-on kitchen experience at Hunt & Harvest Caterings. I connected with their mission of bringing farm fresh, local ingredients to the table through curated menus that utilize the highest quality seasonal goods. I learned custom menu curation, timing for events, and how to execute well for guests. Here, I started falling in love with catering and event-style service. 

 

Next, I took my skills to Utah, working at the Stein Eriksen Lodge, a luxury ski resort voted one of Forbes 5-star properties. While I grew my love for cooking in Utah, my heart grew when I fell in love with a beautiful mother. My life changed quickly and I knew I wanted more. I moved back to the Cape Girardeau area to grow my business and my family. I hope to show the ones I love they can do anything they set their mind to. My business is more than just food to me. It's every special moment we share around the table.