Chef Terrell is the author of “The Love Languages of Food” – The essential characteristics of any chef, home cook, foodie, or someone who flat out just loves food! Filled with his history as a chef and some of his signature recipes, he takes your senses on a journey of your love of food!
In addition to being an amazing father, owning a private chef catering company, and being an author; he’s also the owner of Healthy Eatz Delivery a member-based meal prep, and weekly delivery service along with a Grandma’s Soul Food a soul food meal prep option that he co creates with his mother and grandmother based off the recipes in his book.
FMM: Share your backstory of resiliency that led you to success in your craft.
My resiliency is a testament to my upbringing, my parents were tough, strict, funny and caring.
As I grew older I began to embrace some of those same traits, which came in handy as I had to apply them to my life in the kitchen.
When I first started in the restaurant industry, I had to compete with other chefs that had far more training and experience, however, my love and passion for learning about the history, flavors and culture of food helped me ascend to and eventually surpass what I thought the standard of kitchen excellence was.
FMM: What are the love languages of food?
These 7 languages derived from how my family bonds around our love of food , family and fun!
Love Language 1
Family Interactions
Love Language 2
Creativity & Curation
Love Language 3
Passion of Craftsmanship
Love Language 4
Respect
Love Language 5
Cuisine & Culture
Love Language 6
Validation & Confirmation
Love Language 7
Friendship & Camaraderie
FMM: Tell us about Manning Catering and your Healthy Meal Prep Delivery Weekly Service.
Manning Catering Company gives me a chance to really express myself culturally, I have clients that are from all parts of the world and being able to collaborate with my clients to build a vision for their special event with dishes that not only taste amazing but also have meaning to our clients, makes it easy to do what I love which is catering for their parties, weddings, and special events.
Healthy Eatz is a very exciting project for me, my father passed away with high blood pressure and soon after his passing I decided that I would go on a mission to show as many people as I can that you can have good food that is delicious and healthy. It is so rewarding to help our clients reach their physical and emotional goals.
Eat good, look good, feel good.
FMM: Weddings are your absolute specialty. What do you enjoy about weddings and what you offer to clients?
Catering for weddings is such a glorious experience for me, the planning and tasting process is where I get to truly connect with my clients. I read their body language, I ask them about their backgrounds, where they met and what significance that plays in their lives.
My clients are a book and it is my job to read them and tell their story through my food.
Your Wedding day is not like any other day, on wedding day everything has to be on time and picture perfect.
It’s a lot of pressure, which I love. This day begins another part of my clients forever journey and I want to ensure that our clients know that I understand that one of the most memorable parts of the day falls on my shoulders and it’s up to me to narrate their story through their cuisine in a way that will not only make the cuisine experience memorable for the newlyweds but for every person at the wedding.
FMM: Tell us about your best-selling books, Like A Chef and The Love Languages of Food. How are you helping other future chefs with the bigger and powerful vision of the demanding culinary industry?
The Love Languages of Food has taken me on an amazing journey, writing it forced me to go back to various different places in my life. It was an emotional roller coaster, during the writing process, I laughed, I reflected, I time traveled in time and I learned so much more about myself that I wouldn’t have known unless I went back and started writing about my journey.
Like A Chef is my next passion project, a cook book that teaches the everyday person recipes and practices that I have used for many many years. This book will teach you how to curate some amazing dishes just… like a chef!
I love helping young chefs who have a passion to learn about the industry and learn about the true craftsmanship that goes into being a chef. I love when I see a young chefs that I can see a younger version of myself in.
FMM: Can you share a favorite recipe from your book?
My Mama’s Baked Mac & Cheese
The Elements
1 box of elbow macaroni
2 eggs
1 1⁄2 cups of Sharp Cheddar cheese, freshly grated 1 cup of heavy whipping cream
3 teaspoons of sugar
2 tablespoon of butter, softened
1 tablespoon of seasoned salt
1 tablespoon of pepper
2 teaspoons of cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon of Louisiana Hot Sauce
Take Action
1. Pour box of elbow noodles into salted boiling water.
2. While pasta is cooking, whisk together cream, sugar, shredded cheese, and eggs on medium-low heat.
3. Add in all seasonings and hot sauce.
4. Once pasta has cooked and is slightly al dente, drain from the hot water, and toss macaroni with softened butter and combine with the mixture.
5. Whisk together.
6. Set oven to 350 ̊F and cook for 25 minutes
FMM: How have you built your empire?
It starts and ends with food being my passion, when I talk or post about food you can’t help but to feel the love and passion that I have for food. I take the the passion that I have and I express myself through my food posts and my daily connections with others. Social media can be a full-time job, but when you love what you do, it makes it so much easier. I’ve built my platform and my presence on social media by doing what I love to do.
FMM: Valentine’s Day is around the corner. Tell us about your Private Cooking Class.
I offer top of the line intimate cooking classes. Whether for a couple, girl’s night out or someone who just wants some tips from a chef.
I will teach you how to sear, sauté, brûlée and plate just like a professional chef.
These classes are complete with a wine pairing for each course as well as education on how to smell, taste and evaluate high quality wine. These are great gifts to give to couples, friends or even coworkers.