Today we’d like to introduce you to DayJus Hill.
Hi DayJus, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
Growing up, I always knew that I was going to be a chef. I never played a sport, and this was the only talent that I knew that I had. My grandpa was the cook in my family and he taught me everything that I know. He was one of the strictest teachers that I’ve ever had. Whatever I didn’t do correctly, I had to redo until I got it correct. It is because of that perfectionist mentality that I am as good as I am today. After graduating high school in 2018, I received a full academic scholarship to Texas Christian University and decided to major in Nutritional Sciences. However, when the pandemic hit in 2020, and everything went virtual…I decided to make a major change and attend The Culinary School of Fort Worth. Being a student in the program was one of the best decisions that I’ve ever made. I was able to secure a job as a line cook before graduation at The Mansion on Turtle Creek, which was my dream job at the time. Since then, I’ve worked at several restaurants, gained multiple private and celebrity chef mentors, started my own catering business (Dine with DayJ), worked with The Jason Terry Foundation, and found ways to give back to my community through mentorship and service.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
One of the major challenges that I tend to face is the fact that I am an African American female in a male-dominated industry as well as my tender age of 22. Because of those things, people assume that I am soft, ignorant, and lack experience. When I begin to sharpen my knives and show my skills…they begin to think twice about the assumptions that they made about me.
We’ve been impressed with Dine with DayJ, 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?
I go by Chef DayJ, and I own a catering company that provides meal prep and catering services (parties, weddings, dinners). I specialize in tasteful, creative hors d’oeuvres and canapés, but I do it all honestly. Rather than just providing your next meal, I will deliver your next experience.
Pricing:
- Meal Prep (5 meals (1-2 options) for $90)
- Catering services: varies
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dinewithdayj.com
- Instagram: Dine_with_dayj
- Facebook: DayJus Hill