Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Busone.

Hi Chris, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started dipping my toes into the food industry back in 2019, after a few years of already having a cooking blog. I started producing hot sauce and spice rubs and selling them through an IndieGoGo campaign. As that progressed, that turned into me selling the sauces direct to consumer, then working with businesses for wholesale, doing custom hot sauce blends for businesses. Through that, and making more and more connections in food, I eventually started catering. Catering is where I really found some joy. I had never experienced catering from the other side of the kitchen door and I immediately fell in love.

Now, I work for a local establishment catering, as well as operate my own independent catering. And since I never stopped getting involved in the hot sauce world, I was just a judge for the 2024 Boston Hot Sauce Festival, and I will be a judge at the 2024 Philadelphia Hot Sauce Festival!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
For the most part, yes. As far as the people I have met and worked with and businesses I’ve done work for, I have been truly lucky and fortunate to have worked with some amazing people and (still work) with some really talented Chefs.

The hardest struggle has always been an internal one. The more you do and the more challenging and demanding the work is, the more you question whether or not you can do it. This may not happen to everyone, but for me, it’s always been a struggle. I have prepped and catered for hundreds of people for a single event by myself, and I have never had any issues, or problems with the food. But leading up to it, it’s very easy to stare at all the work you need to do and get overwhelmed.

It’s easy for people to say “It always turns out okay.” And I am not going to pretend like there will never be problems, there always will be. But the biggest struggle has been self-doubt that inherently lurks in my mind with all this. And I think it is because despite all my years experience with catering and cooking, the imposter syndrome stays there. Some see it as a motivator and push through. Even if that is actually the case with me. I am constantly working on feeling like it is okay for me to be in this world. I think the best way to approach this, or really any struggle in life, is not to see it as something to beat, or conquer. It’s something you need to balance. Something you accept and dance with and incorporate into the positive motivational side that keeps you going forward.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Captain Cooks Food?
I own and operate a Food business out of NY. I am a social media content creator and chef. My work with this is usually split between catering and doing sponsored brand collaborations on my social media. I have been lucky enough to have brand partnerships with companies like Corona, Fresca, Marukan Vinegar, Chosen foods, and many more.

I hate saying specific things that sets me apart from other brands, simply because all of them can feel ingenuine except for one actual reason: I am me.

I have been flagged multiple times on Instagram for profanity and things along those lines. But I refuse to completely change my persona simply to get more followers or have more commercial appeal. I am fully aware that may not be the best business strategy. But, on the other hand, all the clients I’ve had and collaborations I’ve done have worked with me because they genuinely like my content and who I am.

I offer brand collabs and recipe testing on my socials, I do personalized hot sauce consulting and creation, and I offer catering for any size event pretty much. I have done things as small as 10-person plated private parties in homes, to 100+ guest weddings, and everything in-between.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Music is huge for me. My Spotify will always be the most-used app in my phone. I am always listening to music if I am in the kitchen doing any kind of cooking or prep work.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/captaincooksfood/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/captaincooksfood
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/captain-cooks-food/

Image Credits
All images taken by Briana Codella of Bri Co Creates