We were lucky to catch up with Nadia Johnson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Nadia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Finding those key vendors can often be make or break for a brand. Can you talk to us about how you found your key vendors?

I am a chef, but I know my strengths. There are certain aspects that are not my strengths that I need to outsource for lack of skill or lack of time. I do have a very high standard for what I like to present to my customers, as my brand is “customizing experiences”. If I have an idea for a certain event that I feel I may not be able to execute, I start out with a simple internet search. I look at their body of work that is presented online and then make a call to see how we can help each other for this one event, and also in the future. For instance, I have a vendor that I work with who does my charcuterie boards. He does great work, and is a local business. Out of building this relationship with him, we utilize each other for corresponding events. I do hot food and drinks, and he does the charcuterie and fruits and vegetable trays. I went with this vendor because his brand is very similar to mine, and holds the standard of giving the customer an elevated experience when it comes to their food products.

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 have been in the food service industry since high school. My very first job was at Starbucks and their model is rooted in great customer service. That has carried with me after all of these years. Since that job, I have worked in kitchens for various types of cuisines and, and worked bars of several different types. I eventually made it to the management side of the industry and had gotten to learned how to run a food business from the front to the back. With food being my entertainment and my income, I had the idea to create my own business, the name “Blaize”, for my first son’s namesake. I had been making money for others for so long, it was time to do it for myself. What sets me apart from others is that I do not have a set menu. I create menus for each customer as they come. I love food so much and have the skills to virtually create anything someone may throw at me. I enjoy customizing experiences because the work does not become redundant and keeps the excitement alive every time I get a new inquiry.
The services I provide are catering services, private chef services, bartending and waitstaffing, as well as custom cocktail creation.
I am most proud that I have been able to keep my business going, even through a move to a different state, and through having two more children, while being a full-time student.

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

The pandemic was a huge shock to everyone’s system. The lockdown took away the large gatherings that I was catering so I had to figure out a way to keep income coming in when the restrictions started to ease up. I turned to doing private chef date nights for couples. People did not want to stop being able to enjoy a good meal. but they were not able or had fear of going out into a crowd at a restaurant. With offering date night packages, I got to, and still get to offer customers a great meal, in the comfort of their home.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I started my business in Houston, but I have since moved back to my hometown of Omaha, NE. What has helped me build my reputation in these two vastly different cities is to pay attention to what types of experiences the demographic area enjoys. Both cities are very much meat and potatoes kind of places and enjoy large portions of food. In contrast the two, in Houston, I would need to be a bit more flashy and I got requests for more of a variety of foods. In Nebraska, the cuisine requests are a bit more simplistic, but to provide more of an experience, I add a little “Blaize” twist to give the customer something that they may not have considered otherwise to get them outside of their box. But above all, lead with great customer service from the very first call or email and have great communication.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://blaizehd.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myblaizehd/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlaizeHD