We recently connected with Verchona Walker and have shared our conversation below.
Verchona, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
The lack of adequate accessibility to meet the basic needs of a community or specific group significantly impacts the overall well-being within that community. This issue is prevalent across cities in the United States and drives our mission at Hedonist Foodie. Our goal is to create a positive impact through food, sustainability, and fostering local partnerships. This mission isn’t just a statement—it’s a heartfelt commitment that reflects our values, love for food, and deep connection to our community.
For us, food is more than just nourishment. It brings people together, celebrates life’s moments, and creates lasting memories. Every boxed catering option we craft showcases our passion for culinary excellence, aiming to bring joy and delight to every event we cater, from corporate gatherings to intimate elopements.
Our journey towards sustainability began with a profound realization of the environmental impact of our choices. We use eco-friendly materials and source our ingredients locally, demonstrating that curating a tailored experience and being environmentally conscious can coexist.
We are deeply passionate about supporting local farmers, artisans, and suppliers who form the backbone of our community. By sourcing locally, we ensure the highest quality ingredients while boosting the local economy. We also foster a vibrant, interconnected community by providing a platform for small, locally-owned businesses to showcase their products and support budding startups with resources, guidance, and mentorship. Seeing these businesses thrive brings us immense satisfaction and pride.
Our mission extends beyond catering. We strive to build meaningful relationships within our community by collaborating with local organizations, social clubs, and non-profits. These partnerships allow us to support important causes and initiatives that strengthen our community, making the positive impact we can achieve together incredibly rewarding.
We believe in the power of a thriving community. By promoting and partnering with local businesses, we help create jobs and stimulate economic growth. Our success is intertwined with the success of those around us, and we are dedicated to fostering a prosperous and connected community where everyone can flourish.
This mission is deeply personal to us. It represents our core values and our unwavering commitment to making a positive difference. We are driven by a love for food, a dedication to sustainability, and a belief in the strength of community. Every boxed lunch we create, every partnership we form, and every sustainable practice we implement is a step towards realizing our vision of a better, more connected world.
Hedonist Foodie is more than just a catering company; it’s a way for us to share our passion and give back to the community we cherish. Our mission is our promise to ourselves and to those we serve, and it’s what makes our work meaningful and fulfilling.
Verchona, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
For those unfamiliar with Hedonist Foodie, let me share a bit about our journey. My passion for food and how it connects people is deeply rooted in my family traditions. My great aunt made Sunday dinners grand events centered around love and family, and she instilled this passion in me. As I grew older, I found immense joy in bringing family and friends together through food, good conversation, love, and good times. This led to requests from family and friends, and through word of mouth, I decided to turn my passion into a business.
In 2018, I founded Hedonist Foodie with the belief that food has the power to unite people, nourish the body, and support local economies. We aim to create unforgettable experiences that showcase the best of local flavors while promoting sustainability and community well-being. Our commitment is to exceed our clients’ expectations and leave a positive impact on the communities we serve.
We pride ourselves on sourcing locally, reducing waste, and supporting local businesses. Our goal is not only to satisfy appetites but also to contribute to the long-term vitality of our community and environment. Hedonist Foodie does the work, so you can relax and enjoy the moment. We take a rustic approach in curating food and experiences tailored for our clients on an individual basis.
We specialize in custom corporate boxed lunch meals, gathering boards, and catering services for small events, elopement ceremonies, and micro weddings. Our services are designed to make every occasion special, with attention to detail and a commitment to quality.
At Hedonist Foodie, we use art, music, and food to build strong family and community bonds, making connections between the history of food and our culture and family infrastructure. We maintain an internal ethics system by sourcing products from local farms and locally owned businesses, providing a revenue stream that contributes to the overall local economy, and using reusable and recyclable packaging to help promote environmental awareness.
What sets us apart at Hedonist Foodie is our heartfelt commitment to our values, our love for food, and our deep connection to our community. Our mission is not just a statement—it’s a reflection of who we are. We believe in creating positive impacts through food, sustainability, and fostering local partnerships. Every boxed lunch we create, every partnership we form, and every sustainable practice we implement is a step toward realizing our vision of a better, more connected world. We are dedicated to making our work meaningful and fulfilling, and we take immense pride in seeing the businesses we support thrive.
At Hedonist Foodie, we believe there are no finer things in life than you, your time, family, peace of mind, and happiness along the way. This is what we strive to bring to each of our clients and their events, ensuring that every moment is enjoyed to the fullest.
We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.
Meet Siyanna Mahan, co-founder and the driving force behind our brand. I met Siyanna in 2014 when she was a freshman in high school and my daughter’s best friend. Siyanna quickly became like another sibling to my kids and another daughter to me due to the time she spent with our family.
At that time, before Hedonist Foodie, I co-founded a grassroots business called Pretty Girls On-the-Run with my sister, which didn’t quite take off. During this period, I was planning a camping-themed birthday bash for my son, who was turning two. Unfortunately, the weather took a turn for the worse, and what was supposed to be a beautiful outdoor event had to be moved indoors.
Siyanna, my daughter, and I worked tirelessly to transform our house into a forest, complete with a river and campsite. Siyanna was truly a sport, staying up with me even after my daughter had given up for the night. We spent forty-eight hours straight with no sleep to complete the project. And how did it turn out? Let’s just say we look back and laugh heartily at the experience. Forty-eight hours with no sleep!
Little did I know, that party would mark the beginning of our journey. Siyanna went on to design the Pretty Girls On-the-Run website and coordinate events, showcasing her incredible raw talent for creative design and her keen eye for detail. When I first shared my concept for a new business venture with her, she, in true Siyanna form, voluntarily jumped in and became the other half of Hedonist Foodie.
Siyanna is now a graduate of Tennessee State University in Nashville, holding a Bachelor’s of Health Science in Therapeutic Studies. It has been an honor to watch her grow, and I am humbled and grateful to have her as a vital part of our team.
A little bit about her professional background
“My design journey didn’t start with fancy art schools or prestigious internships. Nope, it began with doodles and sketches, evolving into a passion that now includes branding and professional work. Whether it’s a business logo or a quirky birthday card, I love crafting designs for every occasion and I’m always hungry to learn more.
As a self-taught artist, my skills come from sheer dedication and a love for creativity. I mix artistry with strategy, making sure every design isn’t just pretty but also purposeful. My belief? Great design goes beyond just looking good – it should tell a story, your story. While I might not have a traditional “graphic designer” badge, my self-taught journey proves that passion and dedication can surpass any conventional title.”
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
Let’s talk about abiding, complying, and following as they apply to rules.
Abide means to accept a rule or act according to a recommendation. This phrase comes from the verb abide, which today means “tolerate,” although it originally meant “wait,” from a root meaning “remain, wait, or dwell.”
To comply means to act or be in accordance with wishes, requests, demands, requirements, conditions, etc. Sometimes followed by “with,” it signifies agreement.
To follow means to go or come after (a person or thing proceeding ahead); to move or travel behind. It can also mean to come after in time or order.
These are all words we’ve heard a million times in our lifetime. For me, following the rules in business meant there was a one-dimensional way of doing business. I spent hours researching successful business models in my field, examining everything from their mission and vision to their target audience, marketing strategies, and production processes. While it’s wise to learn everything there is to know and have a foundational knowledge of your field, trying to fit the mold too much can make you lose track of your own purpose and vision.
I found myself talking to so many people, asking for advice, looking for approval, and seeking mentorship that I got lost. The most important thing you can do in business is to show up, be persistent, devise a plan, and act on it. Sometimes we take in so much information that it leads to confusion and doubt. Before you know it, you’ve talked yourself out of your own idea. Since 2018, I have started, stopped, and regrouped many times, often due to self-doubt and trying to abide by someone else’s experience. I was afraid to start my own journey.
I have learned that my purpose in business and life is not to act or be in accordance with other people’s ideas for myself or my business, but to stay in my lane with blinders on. Trying to comply with others’ expectations led to self-doubt, and it was only by following my own vision that I began to find success and fulfillment.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thehedonistfoodie.com
- Instagram: thehedonistfoodie
- Facebook: thehedonistfoodie
Image Credits
photo credit: Siyanna Mahan