Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Cashawna Flores. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Cashawna, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you come up with the idea for your business?
I discovered love and happiness for food when I was a young girl. Growing up in Los Angeles, I spent much time in the kitchen with my grandmother Naomi Smith. She not only got to experiment with cooking but also learned practical skills such as gauging the heat of the stove, seasoning, and of course baking with love. “The time we spent in the kitchen was so special to me. I watched [my grandmother literally] create something out of nothing. A little could go a long way.”As well she saw from a young age that eating brings people together, makes you happy, and that everybody celebrates over food.
I got my start in cuisine by hosting dinner parties. After hearing praise and positive feedback from her family and friends, my husband Terrence Robinson encouraged me to put my love for cooking and baking into a catering business. “I thought about [what Terrence had suggested] and I said you’re right. I love doing this, it’s a passion of mine and so I’m going to go ahead and go for it!” She opened up Elite Catering CA seven years ago and hasn’t looked back since.
When I’m in the kitchen it’s effortless. I feel at home, I feel at peace and it just makes my heart happy. People will taste the love I put into the food when they eat it.”
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Elite Catering CA offers an amazing array of dishes and sweets. They specialize in pies, custom cakes, and cookie baskets. They also offer unique savory dishes like braised short ribs with garlic mashed potatoes, shrimp and grits, blackened cod with mac & cheese, and ropa vieja with rice and black beans. We also offer multicultural comfort food and Mexican favorites such as taco bars. Elite Catering Ca is a one-stop shop that will assist you in planning and catering. Cashawna’s process with new clients is as follows: I start with a phone consultation where I get basic information as to what the person is looking for and what kind of event she is catering to. Then I meet the client face to face and bring tasting items such as cakes or cookies. If the client wants her to put a menu together, she creates two specialty menus. The client then chooses between the two offerings. Wherever you are located – be it Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Orange County or San Diego Elite Catering CA can create an amazing menu for your next event. All of the food is made from scratch. We also deliver!
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
To run a successful catering business, you need to stand out from the crowd and be a symbol of excellence. It can be hard staying ahead of the game. Your recipes need to be better than the rest not to mention your price point needs to be competitive. A lot of my business comes from referrals, which is why having a great personality is necessary. It can be hard to hire staff because of the fluctuating business need. I’ve experienced not having a full staff at points and was unable to take on larger projects because of it.
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
Creating a website and posting on my website and social media. That’s where I gain a lot of my clients from and also word of mouth.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.elitecateringca.com
- Instagram: @elitecateringca