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

Dominique , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?

I was actually in a in a toss up between 2 completely different names. Then I was having a tasting to see what items should make the menu and I just kept hearing how associates just had to tell there friends and how they felt everybody “Gotta Taste” every item that came out to there table. To me it was a no brainer because if I go eat and don’t feel others “Gotts Taste” what I just ate did I really enjoy it? Was it really that good? Well at “Gotta Taste” the proof is in the food!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Im Dominique Vaughn Aka Chef Domo. I’ve been cooking my whole life as my mom was my inspiration as she was a chef in her own rights. I started to take the culinary world serious as I got my first job as a line cook back in 2015 at Mastro’s and ever since then I never looked back. Decided to start my own business in 2020 at the height of COVID as people still deserved to eat the finer things without the stress of learning how to cook or some quick takeout.Here at Gotta Taste we bring you 5star dining right to wherever you are. If you need a nice date night for 2 or you’re planning your dream wedding no job is to big or to small and no food item is off limits. Here at Gotta Taste we don’t only curate menus but we curate entire events. We want to bring your vision to life all while leaving your stomach beyond satisfied. I am most proud of us for curating an entire luau from the decorations to the food items for those who have lost or have someone suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia for LA county. When working with Chef Domo & Gotta taste all you have to do is have a budget, know you’re favorite foods, the theme, time and location and we will take care of the rest exceeding expectations.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

My entire life I played football. Everything was football. I went to college because of football. So when football was over I was at the crossroads of what to do especially since I always wanted to be around football. I started to coach and use my degree to go into broadcasting but there was just not that same passion. Since I knew I couldn’t do it the rest of my life I went to go and get a line cook job and fell in love with knowing ppl were satisfied because of me. That feeling made me decide I wanna be running my own place one day. I knew once I was able to take my teachings from the restaurants and all the other great chefs I have worked under that I could make people appreciate the artistry of a private chef.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

The professionalism and the product. Our biggest thing is customer service because an upset client could love the food but if they had a bad experience that is all they will remember. When it comes to the food it truly sells itself. Especially since here at Gotta Taste our biggest thing is consistency . Once you eat from Chef Domo @ Gotta Taste your pallet is changed forever. You know now great food and will bring a friend next time because they Gotta Taste what you just experienced.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Gottataste_
• Facebook: Gotta Taste
• Other: Email for all bookings gottatastedm@gmail.com