I started Mike Eats in 2018 as a food blog with the intention of posting about my favorite things to eat and cook. Over the years, I dipped my foot in and found success, but I hadn’t fully committed.
Back in April 2023, I separated from my cool tech job and was left to figure out my next chapter. I was also turning 30 (94 baby!), and you know that naturally comes with anxiety and unrealistic expectations.
After leaving the corporate life, I decided to actualize a dream I had all my life: going to culinary school. I was blessed to be accepted into culinary school with all expenses paid. I began that journey at the beginning of 2024, aiming to open roads of creation in my life. I had a very successful and fun time in the music and entertainment industry, but it was time to pour into another creative lane. Along with culinary school, I wanted to get out into the field, so I picked Mike Eats back up and got straight to business. This time, I was focused on changing lives through good food.
People who know me have witnessed this passion firsthand and have really been a blessing by marketing me through word of mouth. My first major opportunity was a corporate contract with Nike. After years of self-doubt and procrastination, I decided I would no longer let outside factors hold me back from something that was so innate. A longtime friend of mine reached out and said, “Hey, Nike needs you for a very special and high-level event.” As I rose from my couch, buried in Law and Order SVU episodes, I said, “Are you playing??”
Long story short, for Mike Eats’ first booking, we prepared food for over 250 people. I was able to hire some other really talented chefs from my hometown and from my community here in the Tri-State area. So, here I was going from 0 to 100—hiring teams, securing licenses, and renting commercial kitchens. Some people thought I was crazy, but I knew I had been preparing for this for years, and it was executed seamlessly. Our menu ideation was so innovative—shoutout to Charlie, Alexis, and Jasmine for being a part of the dream team. This was the beginning of a very eventful summer for Mike Eats.
(L to R; Alexis, Charlie, Me, Jasmine)
