We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dennis Littley. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dennis below.

Dennis, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

I started my website as a resource for my culinary students, and after a lot of trial and tribulations, I finally became a food blogger.

Back in 2010, it was like the Wild Wild West.

I started sharing my website with groups and got turned down because it was too ugly. I had no idea what to do, but I started changing it up to look more appealing.

A few months later, I found a group of bloggers who welcomed me with open arms and found friends around the world who were blogging like I was. I actually went on to be named The Most Valuable Food Blogger at their annual conference, because of all the help I gave to other bloggers.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’ve been involved with food for most of my life, starting flipping burgers at age 12. At age 13, I was the store manager. I later went on to work as a food service director in a nursing home and then as a chef apprentice at an Italian restaurant.

That was where I really learned the skills that would keep me employed for the rest of my life.

After years of abusing my body, I ended up at an all-girls HS where I was the manager. Because of injuries, I wasn’t supposed to cook anymore. The food was so bad there, I found an excuse to move the cook to another position and went back to cooking.

To say the girls and staff had no idea what happened is an understatement. After 3 years, I started a culinary program that the company I worked for would implement nationwide. My program went on to be one of two points of excellence during the school’s recertification.

I started my blog because of the culinary program, so my students would have a resource. I wasn’t trying to create chefs, I was trying to teach my students how to feed themselves and their families. The tagline I used for my blog, was “Yes, Virginia, there is more to life than takeout and the microwav.e”

This was the last position I held in a professional kitchen, as my body finally gave out and I was forced to retire. I then spent jore time on my blog and kept adapting to changes and it kept growing.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

My first 8 years of blogging were nothing but stories of resilience. One obstacle after another would appear. The only thing that remained the same was that everything was constantly changing.

I had spent 10 years in the martial arts, and it taught me that there was no giving up. So I constantly adapted and pivoted when things didn’t work. That has been my saving grace.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

The biggest pivot point that turned out to be a game-changer for me was that I had to stop creating dishes as a chef. I was creating recipes for my website, like they were specials at my restaurant.

The few people who found them loved them, but no one was searching for what I was making. I had become successful in spite of myself, but when I started creating recipes for dishes people were actually looking for, traffic to my website exploded.

I still make specials occasionally, but most of the dishes I make are of dishes that are being searched.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.askchefdennis.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/askchefdennis/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AskChefDennis/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/askchefdennis/
• Twitter: https://x.com/AskChefDennis
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChefDennisLittley
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/askchefdennis/

  https://flipboard.com/@askchefdennis

  https://tiktok.com/@askchefdennis

Image Credits

All images were created by myself.