We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Chanell Hale a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Chanell, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
The most meaningful project that I’ve worked on during my journey is Feed the Kiddos Chi. FTKC was born during the pandemic when Chicago public schools were temporarily shut down due to riots throughout the city.. Although CPS were not in regular session- students were still relying on schools to provide lunch meals. The thought of students missing out on the opportunity to have their daily lunch shook my world. The opportunity to combine my passion with supporting my community reminded me of my purpose. It was an amazing moment to dive deep into myself + what I really care about, while also collaborating with my community. That gave me life!
Chanell, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I’m Chanell! Lovingly known as Chef Chanell by people who have tried + adore my food! I got into the personal chef industry by having a very honest moment to myself while simultaneously having a literal conversation with God. I had just graduated + received a master’s in social work, following receiving bachelor’s in psychology during undergrad. It was as summer day in June when I had began to panic at the idea of being a post graduate student with no job. I had paid my bills up until July and had been applying for jobs for 6 months before graduation- still… nothing. I was heartbroken at the realization that everything I was told + believed about the path of my future was just another American dream, not my own. I was told that I can go to college, graduate, and be guaranteed with opportunities to thrive. During this moment I had with myself- I realized that I need to focus on myself within instead of what surrounds me. I asked God “what is my god given gifts + talents -that no one give or take away from- that I can share with the world + sustain myself without needing the approval or validation of an employer. I needed to understand why I was placed on this earth just to be doing things that were outside of myself. That didn’t sit right with me.
In that moment God spoke to me + revealed that my gift is cooking. I instantly had a flashback on all of these moments that I shared my food with others + it was profound visual. I realized how much I did love cooking + how much it would bring me joy to gather with my loved ones over some delicious food. During school- friends would ask me to prepare something special for their birthdays. Mostly everyone wanted to indulge in my broccoli Alfredo haha. I never once thought cooking was my gift or something that I would be passionate about, but I could not ignore what God told me. In that same day, I made a huge menu for a diner I imagined myself to open. I sent it to friends + family but they were confused- being that I had just graduated from my master’s program + never mentioned by love for food. They weren’t there when I realized how cooking brought me to life when I was coping with my brother’s death. They didn’t understand how at peace I felt being in the kitchen discovering new recipes, while also discovering new parts of myself.
Everyone dismissed that menu but I couldn’t. I wanted to open a cafe and share my food with the world, but with what money? – I thought. I would dream about it, write out ideas + make doodles. I would constantly wake up with ideas + write them down. One day, I woke up and realized that I can start a catering company out of having much money. Another day, woke up with the words Dreamyvents Catering. It was a word play on Dreamy Events Catering. I went with it. I decided to find out what it would take to start a catering company! I applied for a sole proprietorship + went forward with the name Dreamyvents Catering. Another day, I woke up and had a logo in mind. I drew it out and shared it with my friend who is an artist. She helped me to make it digital! Another day of doodling and I drew these 3 girls in the cutest outfits. They were servers at an event, holding serving platters with drinks + hors d’oeuvres. I imagined this would be the way my catering company would service our clients.I made an instagram page + told all of my friends that I was available for catering. One day, one of my friends from college called me about an event that she was hosting + asked me to cater. She said she would like some servers walking around with platters serving small bites + cocktails. I instantly thought about my doodle from the other day. That is the moment that I 100% believed in this journey ahead + that is the day that I received my first booking or Dreamyvents Catering by Chef Chanell!
I finally did receive a job in my selected field + was working while simultaneously building my catering company. I knew had bigger dreams + goals but I would take my time + learn each event because I had never done anything like this. I didn’t know what it would take to have a business, I didn’t even realize that I was working towards being an entrepreneur. I just knew that my heart connected with my purpose + that is all I needed to know. While working as a social worker, I realized even more, how passionate I was about sharing food energy with others. I realized how alive I felt when I had the opportunity to share energy through food. I came to understand that energy can be transferred + felt by others through food. It became my desired to share beautiful energy with my community through food while also realizing that I can sustain myself in this world.
After 4 years of working as a team lead as an advocate for individuals experiencing health + mental health illness, I decided to leave my career as a social worker + focus on my own mental health. I realized how powerful food is in connection to mental health + how cooking assisted me with feeling whole + well. There were also times I truly doubted myself + my capabilities. I would wonder “am I over my head?” “did I go too far this time?” But with every doubt, I was always reassured in abundance. I felt like my heart chakra expanded as I continued to practice cooking + I really loved that for me. Everyone always asks me about my favorite dish to prepare- however, my favorite thing to do is cook with love.
My focus is to share real good energy + real good food made with love. I wholeheartedly believe that is what sets me apart from others. I’m very passionate about learning new + authentic ways to discover, explore, research + share new recipes. My favorite way to share food is in intimate spaces. I love serving + enjoying food family style. It’s my ultimate happy place to see how people’s energies shift once they begin eating something that I prepared. I like to consider myself an alchemist when it comes to my life + the food that I prepare. I also enjoy hand mixing body butters, gourmet spices, tea blends + fresh milks. I love curating events + intimate dining experiences. My favorite things to do with food is share it with my community. I love collaborating with the collective to find space + resources to give back to the community. I realized that I am a social worker at heart + will always find ways to advocate for communities + individuals in need. I am very passionate about connecting underserved people to resources. I am most proud of creating my initiative Feed the Kiddos Chi. During the summer of 2020 I began to raise funds in order to shop + prepare colorful, fun + health meal options for the youth during the pandemic. I wanted to find a way to provide a mental health check + also remind our youth that someone is always looking out for them. Feed the Kiddos also allowed for me to meet some amazing people in my community + other parts of the world- who assisted with raising funds, volunteered their time to cook food with me + deliver food to kiddos all over the city of Chicago! I received enough donations to work solely on Feed the Kiddos for 3 months. Doing this work gave me the best feeling in the world. I was featured on USA Today + the Kelly Clarkson Show- who donated to the kiddos! I want to spend more time in this space + connect with kiddos all over the world- over a good meal!
I’m getting more interested in farming + learning what it takes to grow + sustain my own food. I want to share organic + natural offerings with my community.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
I can share many stories that will illustrate my resilience. You all would wonder- “why does she continue with this?!” As many amazing moments that this personal chef journey has allowed me, I have ad equal or more moments that made me want to give up + never look back. Moments where I know I disappointed my client, or burned myself, hurt myself, was sleep deprived, had no money to keep investing in this business, overspent on an event and experiencing debt, forgot an ingredient or a dish in the oven. So many moments that told to throw the towel in- but I never could give up on this because I always felt like it was bigger than me. I’m so grateful for the trial + error! It CONTINUES to help me reflect + GROW! I didn’t know anything about catering or providing food service. Understanding that allowed me to give myself some grace- while also being very interested in learning more about what I can do to pivot my career.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
I think non-creatives will struggle to understand why in the world would someone choose a path of uncertainty for their life- especially when you can make a plan. I spoke to my father recently who shared with me that he couldn’t understand why I would go and leave a paying job just to go have cooking gigs- where I didn’t know where my next check would come from.
Though I was receiving a check every two weeks- I felt limited in being myself. I felt limited on my value + what I could offer the world + that feeling pained me! I feel like I was created to create. I don’t believe that there is anything more valuable than spending my time creating whatever feels good for me + that will help me with raising my vibrations + growing as an individual.
Being a creative has assisted me with being myself + opening my throat chakra. It allows me a space to express what is on my mind + be me!
No amount of money in the world can replace the feeling of doing what I love.
Also that creatives and small business is the perfect time to remember that behind business are humans. It’s given me the motive to be more kind + understanding to others knowing that they are devoting their lives to not only creating something- but also keeping it going consistently!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dreamyventscatering.com
- Instagram: @chefchanell
- Facebook: facebook.com/dreamyventscatering
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chef-chanell-4942b117b/
- Twitter: twitter.com/lovechefchanell
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/dreamyvents-catering-los-angeles
- Other: www.instagram.com/dreamyventscatering.com
Image Credits
USA Today Kelly Clarkson Show Naylor Media Group