Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Darris Cue. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Darris, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What were some of the most unexpected problems you’ve faced in your business and how did you resolve those issues?

So the first thing that comes to mind is an experience that took place this past May with one of my favorite clients. She planned a girls weekend and she wanted me to provide dinner for her and her friends/family in Charlotte. She secured a nice spot in Uptown Charlotte for the weekend. The menu consisted of stuffed chicken, cajun honey salmon, garlic mashed potatoes, and green beans. Everything was going fine until i noticed the oven temperature was set at 375 degrees but it wouldn’t budge past 315 degrees. Now initially I thought it was user error because this is a kitchen I am not familiar with (a challenge traveling private chefs encounter always). However the oven really had a defect. So I had to change how to finish the cooking the entrees and adjust on the fly. It was a little frustrating because you want everything to be perfect for your client so they can have the ultimate experience. I apologized about the delay and explained what was going on. They were more than understanding and I was able to still present them with a delicious and beautiful meal; albeit it was delayed. I have some visuals of the finished product.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I got into the industry of being a private cater/chef by fate and desire. For quite some time I had a desire of getting into the food industry but I couldn’t figure out what exactly what that would look like. Once the start of the pandemic began in April 2020, my friend/fellow chef (Alexis Riddick) asked me to help her with a private event and my life changed from there. She always told me we needed to get in the kitchen together because she knew I had talent in the kitchen. Also with the pandemic basically shutting things down in regards to public gatherings, it created a large market for private in home affairs. Ever since then, my life has been pretty busy.

The main thing I solve for my clients is that they one less thing for them to worry about when it comes to a special occasion. I help construct menu(s) based on their likes/dislikes. I even establish myself as a curator of vibes. I want them to enjoy their meal as well as create an experience. Your food should be aesthetically pleasing AND delicious.

I set myself apart from others because I am myself. I am what you call an “outgoing introvert.” I really enjoy what I do and it makes me happy when clients enjoy what I provide from them. The majority of my business has been from referrals or repeat customers. I have met so many wonderful people during this journey.

I am proud of mainly what I have evolved to. I have been thru some tough times so I am proud I was able to pull myself out of a bad place multiple times and focus my energy on my work. Plus I have the motivation of performing so I can make my mom proud. She isn’t with me in the physical form due to her passing in 2014, however she is one of my main motivation factors because I was her pride and joy.

I am also I am proud of how I have become an inspiration to some of my friends and family. Like one of my favorite cousins told me that because of “how pretty my food looks,” it has inspired her to become better at presenting her food when she is finish cooking. Or when one of my friends show me what they made last night for dinner and they want me to critique their work. Oh and when family ask them for the necessary steps for example to make amazing mac and cheese like yours truly. Like it is super flattering.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

In regards to building my audience, I have always been kind of popular since middle school (high school was a little weird because I was a new kid and shy/awkward). Once I became a young adult, I grew my friend circle due to the university I attended (NC A&T State University. Aggie Pride!) and working as a trainer at a high volume call center centered around directory assistance. I met a lot of people during those times and fostered some amazing relationships. I dabbled in event planning as well so that helped with growing my social media following. The main thing I am my authentic self. What you see is what you get. Over the years I learned to be selective on what I share and things I say.

I always believe engaging with people on social media will help you grow. Also if you are an entrepreneur, most people will support you because of who you are instead the actual product yourself. Plus I learned who my audience is and I target mainly what I post/share towards them. I have learned to be engaging, transparent, edgy yet professional, and socially aware when I am social media because you will be amazed on how many people are watching you. Also I try not to stress how many likes or comments I may get on social media. The most important thing is staying consistent. Staying relevant will keep you in the game longer than you think.

Any fun sales or marketing stories?

One of my favorite marketing strategies I did was to celebrate my 3 year anniversary as a private chef/caterer was I had 10-12 of my friends/clients make a short video sharing their favorite dishes I have made and just speaking positivity about me and my journey. It was a beautiful moment for me that I was honored to share with the world. I like that the majority of my business is basically and referrals so why not show live testimonies? Plus when I am not feeling my best and I feel like I am going to that dark place, I always have those videos to refer to lift me up.

The ability to choose great friends that turn into family (and I am flattered they chose me) is a blessing.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/tbwf_cue
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/darris.cue

Image Credits

Mya Banks (IG is instagram.com/4oeyedvision)