With the spotlight on you through local and national media, a James Beard Award nomination, and a Netflix show, how does this recognition align with, or even exceed, the vision you had when you first launched Justice of the Pies?
When I launched Justice of the Pies, I just wanted to embark on an entrepreneurial journey that would allow me to exercise my creative muscles. Food is one of my love languages. I enjoy eating really good food. I also enjoy approaching flavors from an interesting perspective when developing recipes. I simply wanted to be happy with the work I was creating and with the way I was spending my time. I never imagined that I would receive the visibility, recognition, and develop the culinary peer relationships that I have- which makes me all the more grateful for the blessings that have fallen in my lap and the relationships I've built in this food world. I want to wake up each day proud with what I've created and accomplished in establishing my business and brand...anything after that is lagniappe.
If you could bake three pies to share with any three people, who would you choose, what pies would you make for each, and what makes those selections meaningful?
I would choose to make pies for my ancestors that are no longer with me. I feel their spirits whenever I'm in the kitchen and I would honor them for always being near me by making them pies as an offering for their protection and guidance. When something good happens for me professionally, I'll look to my mom and say "I wish my grandparents were here" to which she'll respond, "They are." So, for my maternal grandmother, Mary Jane, I'd make a quiche inspired by her favorite cocktail, the Bloody Mary. For my dad, I'd make him a pie filled with chocolate, peanuts, and caramel to celebrate his love for his absolute favorite candy bar: Snickers. For my grandfather, I'd make him a Brisket Wellington. He used to own a tavern on the South Side of Chicago that was attached to a BBQ joint in the back of the building. I know he'd love to see BBQ presented in a more elegant way.