Purposeful Cooking with Chef Honeeii
Cooking is not just something KeIarra Giles Henson does – cooking is more of a lifestyle for the 32-year-old cooking enthusiast. Those who delve into her appetizing dishes affectionately know the Dallas native as Chef Honeeii.
Henson feels like she was born cooking around her father and her sisters. Growing up in the family home, there was a rather sensitive smoke detector in the kitchen. Her father would often joke, “You all are in there burning stuff up” whenever the detector would sound off.
“Heating just about anything up would set it off,” Henson laughs. “One day I decided to make a game of it by trying to cook without making it go off.”
She was successful with both experimental dishes and her go to meals. In 2012 she officially became a chef. After so many years spent in her happy place (the kitchen), she decided that she wanted to share her passion for food with others.
“It’s such a great feeling to cook in your home,” says Henson. “I’ve always found such great peace when cooking.”
While the young chef knew that she would have to eventually venture out of the kitchen and into the world of social media and marketing to establish a business, she was determined not to lose the intimacy of cooking in her own private kitchen.
Like so many entrepreneurs, Henson does have a full-time job. She serves as a call center trainer by day. During the afternoons, evenings and on the weekends she cooks from her home kitchen. Her most popular service is special dinner for two, in which she sets up tables, overhead projectors, music and more. Many couples take advantage for date nights, engagement surprises and more. Henson also caters small parties and pop up kitchens.
“I do want my own commercial kitchen,” Henson reiterates. “But not at the cost of losing the intimacy and the personality of cooking in my own home.”
Her friends always call her while she’s cooking. She can carry out full conversations, vent sessions and even offer advice while preparing an entire meal. Knowing how much she values such personable interactions, Henson wants a kitchen with either an audience or a table, so that she can talk about important things while cooking.
Henson’s mentoring group Speak Eatz is all about healthy eating, starting businesses and more. Anyone who wants to participate can chime in via phone or face to face. Oftentimes the group will meet at a local Starbucks.
Fortunately for Chef Honeeii, her family is super invested and helps her grow and share her business. Her three sons, ages 15, 12 and 10 will eat virtually any dish that their mother sits before them. Her fiancé is completely onboard as well. Because she’s serving both her family and yours – Chef Honeeii is invested in healthy options. This year she began branding and using her own cooking oil, which reduces high cholesterol.
Chef Honeeii hopes to be a full-time chef by 2020.
“I love that what I’m doing brings people together,” says Henson. “To see the responses and excitement warms my heart.”
Facebook: Chef Honeeii
Instagram: Chef Honeeii (by yours truly)
www.chefhoneii.wix.com/speakeatz
Story by AriChristine | Image Provided by Chef Honeeii
