Today we’d like to introduce you to Adrian Tella.
Hi Adrian, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
The Lord really planted a passion in me about 13 years ago to be a chef. I have always been a servant at heart and wanted to work in an industry where I could use my God-given gift. After much thought and prayer, the Lord revealed my calling, and that was to be a Chef and serve the community in a unique way. That’s when it all began. I obtained my culinary degree from The Art Institute of Dallas in 2012 and then began my own Catering Company after working in Corporate Dining. I always knew that the business would expand beyond catering, as the Lord had shown me in many dreams. I began to journal and wrote down my dreams and I started mapping out the vision that God was showing me. After ten years of prayer and here in the middle of a global pandemic, God opened the doors of our first restaurant and blessed us with a new beginning. In November of 2020, our restaurant Simply Divune Cafe was birthed. In spite of all that is going on in the world, we saw the blessing of what God was doing for us. Trusting only in him through such a tragic time, we knew we had to be obedient to His word and step out in our Faith. This was just another part of our testimony and God’s journey for us to share in the story…We are excited to see what the future holds and where the Lord takes us!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
This hasn’t been a smooth road for us at all. My husband and I actually tried to launch the restaurant about three years ago with no success. The facility that we looked at was much smaller and we knew we could handle it but tons of red flags came up, finances weren’t approved and we were shut down and walked out feeling defeated. Back to the drawing board, we went and back to God, telling Him, “We trust you, Lord, your will be done”. We told God that when the time was right and it was from Him to give us total confirmation and to let it be seamless. In the middle of a pandemic, that’s exactly what it was… seamless! Only God can move mountains.
We’ve been impressed with Simply Divune Cafe, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My husband and I own the business together and we employ my mother and oldest daughter. One thing that we have always said is that through this business is that we always wanted to offer a ministry. Being able to share the gospel with those that come in, house and feed people where they elsewhere wouldn’t be, put kids through college, employ those that elsewhere wouldn’t be able to work. These are all the beginning of things that set up apart from other restaurants but from a culinary standpoint, things that set us apart is our flexibility to listen and absorb our audience and our ability to transform to the individual need through our catering.
As a whole in the restaurant, we specialize in Southern Cuisine foods. Some of the unique things you will find on our menu that elsewhere are not found would be our buttermilk chicken and waffles, shrimp and grits and our barbeque roast sandwich. I may have forgotten to mention our smoked gouda kettle chips in there too! In addition to our set menu selections, we offer a rotating hot plate special each week that you can find posted on our social media outlets. In addition to the restaurant, we still offer catering services as well. One thing as a small business owner that I really want our clients to know is that we are here for them. Our ears are always open to suggestions and critique. We don’t take critique with offense; we take it with growth. Our number one goal is to satisfy our clients because this is what keeps us in business.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Some of my absolute favorite cuisines of study and cooking are Latin and Asian but I love downhome Southern cooking. Food that speaks to your body and fills your heart; all of the feel-goods that keep you warm inside and leave you good stories.
Pricing:
- 7.99
Contact Info:
- Email: simplydivunecafe@gmail.com
- Website: http://simplydivunecafe.org/
- Instagram: simplydivunecafe
- Facebook: @simply.divune
- Yelp: Simply Divune Cafe
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