We recently connected with Victoria-Lee Lewis and have shared our conversation below.
Victoria-Lee , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
This concept was created out of love for two of my favorite things. Vegan food, The 50’s era, and Iconic Pin-Ups from Old Hollywood. My catering company The Vegan Black Pin-Up is a 1950’s style dining and most enjoyable experience. Aesthetic focused on vintage America and southern cuisine’s incorporated with cultures from all around the world. Such as, Crispy Fried Okra seasoned to perfection with Middle Eastern Spices. It is ✨OUR MISSION✨ to deliver quality fresh delicious vegan cuisine that is FLAVORFUL & HEALTHY for vegans and non vegans alike.
Victoria-Lee , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
At The Black Vegan Pin-up, we believe in the power of delicious, soulful food to nourish both body and community. As a Black-owned family business, we are dedicated to creating tasty vegan dishes infused with healthy love that not only satisfy your taste buds but also support your well-being. Our finger-licking menu is a celebration of the rich flavors and textures of plant-based cuisine, crafted with care and passion by our talented chefs. From hearty mains to mouth-watering sides and desserts, we offer a diverse range of dishes that cater to all tastes and dietary needs.
But our mission goes beyond just serving great food. We strive to build a community of like-minded individuals who share our love for food and wellness. By promoting veganism as a healthy and compassionate lifestyle choice, we hope to inspire positive change and contribute to a more sustainable future.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
A pivotal moment along this journey and one that contributes to my success was deciding to attend Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts. My infatuation with food and cooking sparked at a early age with influences from all over of the world, but I wanted to build on my skills, confidence, and knowledge of Plant Based cuisine to take my career to the next level. Escoffier gave me a wealth of knowledge with a classical foundation preparing me with tools and techniques I needed to cook with confidence. Encompassed with training in knife skills, Plant Based culinary foundations, approaches to wellness, cultural influences, and the fundamentals of culinary entrepreneurship. I believe that when things are meant to be, paths are made clear and it is easier to follow your dreams. Attending culinary school did just that and was a great learning experience that helped me form professional connections that are invaluable. The perfect balance of discipline and creativity. It truly changed my life.
How’d you meet your business partner?
I met my wife Angellica, who is also my business partner, in high school. A mutual friend showed her my MySpace page and casually slipped her my number. Angellica called me and the first thing she said was, “you’re my girlfriend now.” Lol, basically love at first phone call. She lived in Desoto, Tx at the time and I live in Coppell, Tx. Back then there was no Uber, Lift, or even a bus line that connected the two cities. So, we phone girlfriends for some years, but eventually I moved to Pittsburgh, Pa and remained friends. We lost connection, but in 2010 we decided to finally met in person and I took a flight from Pittsburgh, Pa to Dallas, Tx. The rest is for the history books. We have been together since that rainy and we got married in 2015. The same year we decided to become plant based vegans.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/theveganblackpinup?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theveganblackpinup?mibextid=LQQJ4d
Image Credits
https://www.facebook.com/LuxeLenzCelltography?mibextid=LQQJ4d