Today we’d like to introduce you to Carlisa Thomas.
The Purple Ribbon Chef was started by Mother, Chef, motivational speaker, Lupus and domestic violence survivor and advocate Carlisa Thomas. She received her training from Johnson & Wales University in Baking and Pastry Arts and Culinary Art’s from Washburne Culinary Institute. After being diagnosed with lupus in the eighth grade Carlisa became a champion for the cause and began educating herself and others about the disease. Carlisa had an entrepreneurial spirit at a very young age and saved her summer job paychecks to open and run a candy store. She saw this as a way to give back. She has always used a portion of her earnings to help people with Lupus and their families. Carlisa went even further to make more of a difference in the lives of Lupus patients by starting her own organization, Loop-Us, in 2011. Loop-Us mission is to bring this mysterious disease and those who suffer with it to the forefront and thus provide lupus patients the support they need to stay healthy and maintain a positive outlook.
Carlisa followed in her mother’s footsteps and fell in love with cooking. Her passion for preparing delicious food led her to Johnson and Wales University in Miami, FL and Washburne Culinary Institute in Chicago, IL. Carlisa courageously left her marriage where she had suffered years of domestic violence and joined all of her skills and passions to start her own catering company, Purple Ribbon Chef in 2012 where elegance meets budget and where she serves amazing food with a touch of advocacy. The purple ribbon is the awareness ribbon for both lupus and domestic violence which is why “Purple Ribbon Chef’ was birthed. The Purple Ribbon Chef currently services corporate clients in the downtown Chicago area along with catering clients all across the city. She is also the official caterer of The Historic South Side Community Art Center at 3831 s. Michigan in historic Bronzeville on Chicago’s southside. Chef Thomas has been seen on Fox 32 Chicago, iHeart Radio, Windy City Live, CPR TV, Sirius XM Radio, WHPK Radio and CBS 2 Chicago.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Coming from a career where I was used to getting paid twice monthly a certain amount, I would say my hardest part was not going back to work for someone else when I knew I not only wanted to follow my own dreams I needed to just for a pay check. Money will get low at times, you will work many days with no sleep but if you want to make it you have to put your all into it. I would not be the official caterer of the historic South Side Community Art Center, having corporate clients of up to 300 people in downtown Chicago, or just having sponsored the 89th annual Chicago Defender Bud Billiken VIP viewing party if I had given up and given in to being comfortable. I was very comfortable working a 9-5 but I also knew that I wanted change. Change for my family, for my health and being a business owner gave me the changed I desired. It wasn’t and still isn’t easy but it’s worth it!
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Purple Ribbon Chef – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I am a Mother, Chef, motivational speaker, Lupus and domestic violence survivor and advocate.
I specialize in providing elegance on a budget through our full range of catering options.
I am known for my delicious desserts especially my “Eat Your Cocktail” liquor cupcakes.
As a brand, I am most proud to be connected to and work for the historic organizations within the South Side of Chicago like The South Side Community Art Center, The Chicago Urban League, The CHA, Blue 1647, and The Chicago Defender just to name a few.
What I feel has set me apart from the many catering companies here in Chicago is my wiliness to give back. I have grown to amazing heights by genuinely giving back to my community. Through this, I have received clients that I could have never imagined.
Often it feels as if the media, by and large, is only focused on the obstacles faced by women, but we feel it’s important to also look for the opportunities. In your view, are there opportunities that you see that women are particularly well positioned for?
I may be a little basis being a woman and all but I just feel like us woman can do anything. From the beginning of time, we have had to carry the world on our shoulders wither it be supporting our husbands and being the backbone of the family, supporting and raising families on our own, and that incredible thing that we call child birth just wow.
We can start and run successful businesses. We can run multi- million dollar companies, we can preach, we can teach, we can love, we can nurture. Woman are well positioned for any and every opportunity that presents itself.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.purpleribbonchef.com
- Phone: 773-910-2296
- Email: purpleribbonchef@gmail.com
- Instagram: purple_ribbon_chef
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/purpleribbonchef
- Twitter: @purpleribbonchi
Image Credit:
Purple Ribbon Chef Events. Carlisa N Thomas, Cedamdre’, Onell Media
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