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

Kira, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Often the greatest growth and the biggest wins come right after a defeat. Other times the failure serves as a lesson that’s helpful later in your journey. We’d appreciate if you could open up about a time you’ve failed.

Even as Black Betty’s Cuisine remained 5-star rated and publicly thriving — with features on news segments, partnerships across Maryland, and a loyal client base — I was silently unraveling.
In the beginning, my mission was clear: I wanted to bring intimate, high-quality culinary experiences to life, rooted in deep care, community, and culture. But after the first year, the pressure to say yes to everything — while unknowingly overmedicated and misdiagnosed — pulled me off course.

At the time, I didn’t realize that the pace I was operating at wasn’t sustainable. I wasn’t just tired — I was medicated into a hyper-productive state of mind that felt like momentum. After years of being unknowingly overmedicated, I became irritable, constantly on edge, and disconnected from the intentionality that once defined my work. Still, I kept going.

I accepted every opportunity — vending, pop-ups, large-scale catering — even when it wasn’t aligned. I built a reputation for unmatched flavor and service, but behind the scenes, I was overwhelmed and disconnected from my original purpose.

Eventually, everything caught up with me. And when it did, I chose to pause. To advocate for my own care. To fight for clarity and understanding.

That season of breakdown became the breakthrough I didn’t know I needed. I received the correct diagnosis, cleared my system of the medications that clouded my clarity, and rebuilt everything — this time from a place of true alignment.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m Kira Coates — a chef, creative, and curator of intentional culinary experiences that nourish the body and celebrate the journey.

My love for food started in childhood, when my sister and I would play restaurant to escape the chaos around us. Cooking became my survival tool. As a teen navigating homelessness, I bartered meals in exchange for a safe place to sleep. That resilience shaped me, and years later, after a career-ending injury at the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services, I leaned into that same skill to build something greater.

Black Betty’s Cuisine — named in honor of my sister, who only I called by that name — was born from the intersection of creativity, survival, and deep cultural pride. What began as a plan to offer private chef services quickly evolved. As word spread, I began catering for grassroots organizations, venue owners, and creators across Baltimore — from the National Council of Negro Women, Baltimore Section, to citywide events, and even serving Governor Wes Moore.

Though the work became expansive, I never used templated menus. Every experience was handcrafted — ingredient-forward, locally sourced, seasonally inspired, and always full of intention. I’m proud to say that even in my hardest moments, my work never stopped delivering excellence.

What sets me apart isn’t just the food — it’s the fusion of life, lived experience, and care. I’ve fed thousands, taught culinary skills to vulnerable populations, empowered community leaders through custom menus, and created spaces where people feel seen and celebrated.

Today, I am no longer overextended. I still accept private dining clients for curated in-home experiences that bring restaurant-level quality and heart to each table. And I’ve returned to my roots— building from a place of clarity, with a refined mission that reflects who I am now, not just where I’ve been.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

After that first year, as the demand for Black Betty’s grew, so did the temptation to keep saying yes. The money was good. The opportunities were constant. But the harder I went, the more I realized I had drifted far from my original mission.
Black Betty’s was meant to be a high-integrity brand offering curated culinary experiences — private dinners, intimate gatherings, meaningful moments of nourishment. But I was now moving too fast to keep up with the kind of customization and care that had defined me from the start.

The pivot came when I could no longer ignore how off-track I had become. My thoughts were racing, the joy was fading, and the brand — while still praised — no longer felt like mine.

That turning point led to clarity and a new chapter: a return to deeper purpose through experiences like The Healing Table — a curated, intimate culinary experience that blends food, storytelling, and restoration. It’s not a new business — it’s a continuation of the legacy, grounded in everything I was always meant to do: use food as a tool, and healing as the assignment.

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

One of the most important lessons I had to unlearn is that performing well doesn’t mean you’re doing well.
For years, I believed my worth was tied to productivity — the number of meals served, the events booked, the applause received. As long as people were clapping, I kept going. But that belief almost cost me everything.

Through rest, treatment, and truth, I unlearned that survival isn’t success. I now know that sustainability, alignment, and emotional clarity are the real metrics of impact.

Today, I build differently. I serve from abundance, not depletion. And I use every gift — from the stove to the story — to create experiences that nourish people on every level.

The next chapter of Black Betty’s Cuisine will be defined by high-quality, intimate culinary experiences that reflect who I am now — not just where I’ve been. My story hasn’t ended. It’s only now completely aligned.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.blackbettyscusine.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/blackbettyscuisine & www.instagram.com/kiracoates
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/blackbettyscuisine & www.facebook.com/kiracoates