We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Damira Collins. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Damira below.
Damira, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?
First I’d like to thank you for this opportunity to share my story. I’ve actually gotten asked that question quite often. When I first began trying to name my business, I said to myself if this is about to be my future, I need something that would be different but also a reflection of me and my family background. But I also needed something to keep me motivated and encouraged so I wouldn’t give up on this business once I started it. Then, one day as I was driving down the highway, I kinda began having an emotional breakdown because I started feeling overwhelmed and nervous about the whole entrepreneurship thing and just began doubting myself. Then, after wiping my tears from my face I just kind of began thinking of my Granny, Minerva B. My Granny was such a special person in my life. I had a very close relationship with her. I remember going to my Granny’s house and me and my siblings would always beg her for her homemade boudin and cracklins. I loved to watch her make boudin. She worked as a cook and baker until her retirement.Best homemade biscuits too! So, what gave me the inspiration for my business name was the story of the time when we had a family gathering and I asked my Granny if she wanted a plate. She would pinch her two fingers together and say “Gimmie Lil Tase” She was from Ville Platte Louisiana so she never pronounced the T’ . So I’d literally fix her a tiny amount. She would eat the lil taste you gave her then make us go back and make her a full plate. We would always tease her. My Granny would just fold her arms and giggle.That infectious giggle and her smile was something I’ll never forget. My granny’s last words to me the night before she took ill was ” I am so proud of you, I am proud of all my grandchildren”, I’ve held on to those words since then. In everything I do I’ve always hoped I made her proud. So I took this memory to pay homage to her, as the inspiration but mainly my motivation to never give up on this. So Lil Taste it is!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Well, I am Damira Collins aka Lady D, and Mrs. Peaches to my family. LOL. I am a wife and First Lady to my amazing husband and Pastor Raymond Collins heeeey Bae!, I have two great kids Damarion and Raylin who all play a big part in this business.I was born in Houston Texas and raised in Humble Texas. I absolutely love to cook! My brain doesn’t shut off when it comes to food. I most definitely give credit for my talent to my mama Marie.She has given me the preparation and most importantly the mentorship for this industry. My mom had me chop onions and bell peppers and making thirty weight gravy at the age of nine. I was the only 6th grader coming home from school preparing a full course meal with a desert for a family of six. My parents had a catering business as well for many years growing up and so I learned and worked with the best! As I got older and had the honor and privilege of being on the “kitchen committee” at my church,I just would always think in my head “girl give them some good food”. They don’t want no “zoo zoos” and “wham whams” also known as cookies and punch. lol I always just wanted to feed the people and it had to be good. It became a real passion for me and I enjoyed seeing the reactions from people when they would eat my food. I then was like “let me elevate it or change it up a bit” so it went from making chicken spaghetti and green beans to being triple meat grilled pasta and citrus glazed carrots. I just really began to think about how I could elevate food. Then in February 2018 I was diagnosed with Renal Kidney Failure and had to go on dialysis until I could find a donor match. I had a really rough year, I had just moved into my first home, still working a full time job and juggling my day to day life with two young kids. But God! I got the news that my husband was my perfect match and received a transplant in May of 2019. After my recovery I couldn’t help but to get back in the kitchen. I was so ready after many years of battling health issues. My husband Raymond said to me “why are you sitting down on your gift?” “You have done this for so many years now for free. Step out on your Faith and start your business. People love your food and you have shown them what you can do. So move! ” and with that we began this journey. The one thing I am most proud of is my ability to not limit myself. Even if something isn’t on my menu I accept the challenge. I will go in the lab and work on it till I successfully execute it. I was always told to not quit. One thing I would like for my clients, followers and potential clients to know would be, I put my all into what I represent. I value my clients and providing them great service and good food is my utmost priority. I put my heart into each and every client and every event. I never want a guest to leave my event saying “who made the potato salad” …unless it was the bomb! I have great desire for my business to be not only successful but a blessing to whoever may come my way. I want Lil Taste Catering to be a representation of the person I am, the product I present, my passion for what I do, and my praise through it all on this journey.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
Honestly , it began at church. I not only served in my own church, shout out Mercy At Calvary Baptist Church ! But I began building fellowships and relationships with other churches and believers which led to them sharing with their family members and co-workers and so on. Then once they saw that I could throw down my reputation grew immensely . I created my social media platforms and began posting my events and my work which really promoted the business even more.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Whew chile! Yes! I had one of the biggest catering events thus far. It was for 400 people. I worked and prepared so hard for the event. I had coordinated and trained my staff specifically to meet the clients needs for this event. But then by mid event everything you could think of went wrong. Guests were changing things around more guests than anticipated and it just got crazy. So, I went into a back room and the tears began to fall, I prayed for God to just get me through this night, then I heard my mama say “don’t give up”. I regrouped and then began to refocus and executed the event. Obstacles came at me that entire night but I believe I showed great resilience at that moment.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: lil.tastecateringevents16
- Facebook: Lil Taste Catering Events
- Other: Email: [email protected]
Image Credits
Damon Pinero Michael Jones Jr. Raylin Collins