Today we’d like to introduce you to Chef Monica Hayes.
Chef Monica J enjoys her role as a tastemaker of easy, healthy and delicious meals. She knew early on that she wanted to be a chef, and desired to attend culinary school following high school. She was encouraged by her father to take a different route and majored in speech pathology at Jackson State University. After graduation, she returned home to Chicago where she began working with students at Chicago Public Schools. It was here that her passion for culinary arts was reignited. She observed that students would often come to school hungry or malnourished due to the poor food choices in their communities. She also reflected on when she felt the most joy: making Christmas cookies in the kitchen with her daughter.
Chef Monica J took matters into her own hands and registered for school at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, one of the most respected food education institutions in the world. Boasting such famous graduates as Giada De Laurentiis, Chef Monica J knew this was the right school for her. With her daughter in tow, she took classes at night while still working full-time during the day. She honed her skills and had an initial desire to become a pastry chef, but changed her focus once again and launched Tasteful Manners Culinary in 2009.
A cooking, nutrition, and etiquette education enterprise based in Chicago, Tasteful Manners involves pre-school, elementary and high school students, along with their families, in hands-on learning about healthier food options while preparing culturally-diverse foods. To date, the organization has served more than 5,000 students and their families at 15 public schools on Chicago’s South and West sides. Chef Monica J also serves as a mentor and coach to high school culinary students participating in “Cooking Up Change”, a national healthy school lunch contest sponsored by Chicago-based Healthy Schools Campaign.
A celebrity chef in her own right, Chef Monica J has had the pleasure of cooking fresh and savory meals for hip-hop artists, NBA MVP’s and politicians, including Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx. Chef Monica J also has a successful meal plan catering business and culinary club where she brings hearty choices to customers with her food delivery service. She has several partnerships with La Rabida Children’s Hospital, the Walnut Room in Macy’s and Mariano’s.
Adding author to her list of titles, Chef Monica J is pleased to announce the official release of her first-ever cookbook: Your guide to Tasteful Manners with Love Cork Screw. The book, the brainchild of Chef Monica J and vintner/Love Cork Screw owner Chrishon Lampley, explores the fun pairings of food and wine. You can purchase the book here: http://lovecorkscrew.com/love-cork-screw-cookbook/
Chef Monica J resides in Chicago with her husband and daughter.
Has it been a smooth road?
The decision to put what I wanted to do first was hard. I had a cushy, comfortable job with a steady paycheck that I received every two weeks. It was difficult to trust and believe in myself, I had always done what someone around me thought was best for me. I had to find my own voice. Working a regular 9-5 during the day, going to school at night and then missing my baby who was being babysat by my sister, just sacrificing in general for my dream was a struggle.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Tasteful Manners story. Tell us more about the business.
I personally take pride in taking all of your absolute favorite meals and making them healthy without sacrificing flavor. I specialize in healthy meal prep, but I am also a classically-trained pastry chef and caterer. I also am a co-author of a cookbook, I have a culinary club where you can order ingredients and prepare one of my recipes yourself at home and a healthy sugar scrub business that is headed up by my daughter (teaching her about legacy).
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I see the shift in the industry as the growth of mobile chefs and food services that bring meals to your doorstep. As a younger person, most people cooked at home or went out to eat at a restaurant. Now, there are so many choices for meal prep services and home delivery services such as Blue Apron. I see this trend growing leaps and bounds with the technology that continues to thrive in this area,
Contact Info:
- Website: www.tastefulmannersculinary.com
- Email: chef@tastefulmannersculinary.com
- Instagram: @chefmonicaj
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Chefmonicahayesjones/
- Twitter: @chefmonicaj
Image Credit:
Miguel Frost
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