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Community Highlights: Meet Kofoworola Clayton of ChefKay’s

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kofoworola Clayton.

Kofoworola (Kay) Clayton

Hi Kofoworola, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed with your story and how you got to where you are today. 
My fascination with gourmet cuisine began and blossomed with exposure to professional chefs during my early career in hotel management in Lagos. Over time, my culinary interests led to opportunities for formal training, education, and growth. 

After moving to the US, I realized that many bi-cultural relationships were challenged with navigating culturally relevant food preparation. I began spending a significant amount of time training couples to meet the culinary needs of their partners. Over the years, my work as a personal chef grew from catering and teaching Nigerian cuisine to include New American cuisine and charcuterie. 

While ChefKay’s is a catering company, I’ve used my experience in the hospitality industry to serve as a sounding board for clients working through the process of developing their ideal event. Coordinating logistics for events, such as transportation, setup, and breakdown, requires careful planning and organization. From initial consultation to final clean-up, our exceptional service team is dedicated to realizing your vision and exceeding your expectations. Since 2021, ChefKay’s Cuisine has been offering customizable catering packages tailored to your specific needs and preferences. 

While preparing for my wedding in 2022, I searched for a single caterer of both African and New American Cuisine to meet the needs of our guests. With the wedding a few weeks away and without suitable options, I made the decision to cater for my own wedding. After cooking overnight and well into the morning of our wedding day, our guests raved over the menu and the experience inspired the African and New American fusion ChefKay’s is today. 

African Fusion 

I believe that food is a common and universal language that everyone speaks and understands. One of the best ways to get to know someone is through their food. Living in America and being exposed to the wide range of foods offered has been one of my greatest joys. When I hang out with my friends, we always select a new restaurant to explore and enjoy varieties of new cultures and cuisines. 

When I met my husband, an African American from East Texas, I soon learned that he was a great cook. He introduced me to foods like bar-b-que, cabbage, cornbread, chili, tacos, elotes, ramen, peach cobbler, and key lime pie. I would not have tried many of these foods had he not prepared them for me himself. As an expression of my love for him, I learned to make his favorites! Even today, some of our best date nights are when one of us cooks a newly found recipe. 

Our wedding was both a celebration of love and a merger of our two cultures. My husband wore agbada, which represented Yoruba culture, and we jumped the broom after sharing our vows. We both looked forward to serving traditional Nigerian and American dishes for our diverse guests to enjoy. My search for a single caterer capable of fulfilling our needs quickly became a source of great frustration. I found amazing Nigerian caterers and outstanding American caterers but no one with the skill set to deliver both to my high standard. 

Not willing to give up on our vision for our wedding, and after many sleepless nights, I decided to prepare the food for our wedding myself, cooking well into the morning of our celebration only to rush to my hotel for make-up and dressing. 

Everyone raved about our menu, and many asked for the contact information of our chef! They were surprised and a little shocked to learn that I catered my own wedding! The experience inspired me to offer both African and New American dishes to my clients. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
At ChefKay’s, we believe that challenges are a part of every success story and welcome them as opportunities for growth and development. 

Over the years, I’ve found that seasonal fluctuations pose a challenge to maintaining a steady stream of business and that meeting diverse client preferences and dietary restrictions can be demanding. 

Sourcing high-quality ingredients from overseas and maintaining a skilled culinary team can be a challenge due to client budgets and today’s economy. While food pricing has been increasingly unpredictable, our standards of quality, taste, and presentation remain constant. 

Dallas has a thriving culinary scene with numerous catering options, leading to intense competition for clients. Establishing a strong brand presence, organic recommendations, and delivering unforgettable experiences has been key to our growing success. 

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about ChefKay’s?
At ChefKay’s we create African Fusion for unforgettable private dining and catering experiences. Our dishes are crafted using only the finest natural ingredients, ensuring every bite is a delight of flavors. 

Quality food experiences have always revolved around dining with loved ones. Our recipes are rooted in tradition and elevated for the sophisticated, modern palate. Good food is real love. 

ChefKay’s is located in central North Dallas, where we serve the DFW Metroplex. We ship to any location across the continental United States, and I occasionally travel across the country in my role as a private chef. 

What were you like growing up?
In Nigeria, many live in multi-generational family units. As one of seven children, growing up with my two parents, grandparents, and extended family members in the same home was always an adventure. While most of the time, each person is served their meal individually, there were occasions when the entire family ate together from the same plate. 

Although many meals consist of multiple dishes, my grandmother was unique and cooked all the meals she prepared in one pot. I found it fascinating that she was able to prepare one-dish meals that satisfied all our cravings, although we were a family with many different tastes. 

Good Food is Real Love 

In Nigeria, some families participate in a money pool where they contribute monthly and, at certain times, receive the collected monies from many households. When my mother would receive money, she always made special meals for our family. While food markets today generally host a wide variety of fresh fish, back in the day my mother would travel a great distance to the Ijora Market to obtain barracuda, eja abo “sole fish”, eja osan or eja obokun “catfish”, and tilapia to make a rich and decadent fish stew. 

Growing up, I viewed all the extra steps that went into making special dishes as an expression of love. While all our meals were healthy and delicious, we always called the special dishes “good food.” From an early age, I always associated the steps to obtain the ingredients for and prepare “good food” with both the love and dedication of my mother. Today, I am proud to source quality ingredients and spices from the same markets in Nigeria. When I say, “good food is real love,” it comes from my mother’s tremendous efforts that culminated in amazing, unforgettable dishes. 

Another food that is very special to me is Jollof rice, which is a long grain rice steamed in a rich aromatic tomato-based sauce with seasonings. Growing up, jollof rice was enjoyed only on special occasions like weddings and other celebrations. Today you can find jollof rice as a daily staple of Nigerian cuisine. When I bring jollof rice to my clients, a part of me still feels like I’m participating in a celebration. 

I’ve always been great at cooking, and due to the accessibility of African stores in North Texas and my ability to source foods from native Nigerian markets, I’ve never felt deprived of my cultural foods. In my travels around the world, I have met native Nigerians who did not have access to the ingredients and spices necessary to make authentic Nigerian cuisine. 

I love introducing Nigerian cuisine to Americans and find great satisfaction when my fellow Nigerians complement ChefKay’s as even better than what they left behind in our homeland. Although my mother is literally half a planet away, I’m able to feel close to both her when I prepare native dishes for myself and others. During quiet moments, I sometimes reflect on the food markets of Lagos and the effort that my mother placed into her special dishes. 

Honoring Culture 

Some people believe that Africa is a place where there’s no infrastructure, no modern comforts and that our populations need outside intervention to survive. This is simply not true. Some don’t even believe that we have the internet. For the most part, these misconceptions are a result of what people see on TV, and many don’t know where to get accurate information. 

I often find myself attempting to educate some people here in America about what Africa and my home of Nigeria is really like. We have most of the things you have in America, from Bugar King to Gucci and so much more! I think this is part of the reason why some Americans 

don’t understand the importance of the everyday cultural needs of their African-born partners when dating or married. 

If you are in a relationship with a native African man or woman, it’s important to recognize that our food is a key part of our culture, even if your partner acts as if it’s not a big deal. Even those who are not native-born will find great value in seeking more connectivity with West African and other cultures. 

Make efforts to bring cultural food into your home, whether it’s being intentional about shopping at African markets, learning how to cook African foods, or finding local food vendors or restaurants that specialize in dishes that connect you and your loved ones to their native lands. 

Although your African-born partner may say that it’s not a big deal, many are masking their desire to enjoy these foods and to share this major part of their lives and culture with friends, family, and children. 

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Image Credits
Daniel Davis
Clayton Clear
Color Digital

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