Meet Latoya Polk of Toffee Culinary in Fort Worth

Today we’d like to introduce you to Latoya Polk.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Latoya. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Four words that me are diamond in a rough as a small business owner there is a lot of talent and quality in the food I serve being. Being a small business I have  flexibility to create special experiences for my clientelle. Our  customers get a personal touch of me with every meal. Our food is Comfort with Gourmet touches.

My mother taught me to cook, she is the reason I loved cooking so much. She didn’t mind cooking for us, and her whole family, she was always strategic and clean cut about what she did in the kitchen, so I learned early how to boss up! I have 12 years of culinary experience and training,some self taught, and mentor led and I believe the best learning experience has been teaching kids to cook for six years. Having a large family, being married and having six kids of our own, cooking together is a fun and yet sometimes overwhelming experience because all of my kids want to “help.”

Right down to my four years old knowing how to use a knife properly. We have competed in local, county, and state level Mastery cooking, I was even inspired from my students to enter several Chef competitions. Unafraid and bold I have come out on top, and received several certificates of Notarity in. Culinary. Amongst this, I Am Proud to be a Women, with balance I can teach my Kids that opportunities are limitless, I just want to pave the way for the next generation of children who make me proud everyday.

My goals are to soon open a restaurant so that my food can reach another level. She did, and she never failed at a dish. I have very humble beginnings, from being raised on the south-side of Chicago, to moving away at 14 years old to move with my aunt and uncle a few cities away from home. This gave me a lot of motivation to work hard for the things I want, I had no choice.

I graduated from High School and went to College, I went to a historically black college, which was one of the best experiences in my adult maturity, it taught me survival, oneness with myself as a woman of color, and that I can walk in any room and get what I want if I work for it. That was not my initial school of choice, I wanted to go to Culinary school, but was told by family that I should go to “real” school first to get some meat on my plate… Whatever the heck that meant? They didn’t know how much money is involved in this business.

However, and anyway, College was great, the experience also brought on Early Motherhood, and marriage, which was also a beautiful thing, but it detoured my journey a few years. Before It all, I wanted to attend Dallas Art Institute it seemed like a dream to become a Chef, run a kitchen, open a restaurant and serve the entire city of Dallas. However, my life was not set up for dreams only reality.

Fast forward ten years later five kids and counting.. 🙂  I rebirthed my love for cooking and began with small jobs assisting friends and families with parties, Volunteering at my kids school to cook, organize and even teaching cooking classes to three different age groups, who later on began competing and earning awards and certificates in the culinary field.

During this season, I like to think this was truly a “Learning” season, I began getting more business, and growing into a more focused businesswoman, taking classes to gain for knowledge about being a chef, completing my certification as a food Professional and Food Manager of a Commercial kitchen. I then began to Contract with a fast pace restaurant that gave me the notatirity and start as Executive Chef.

I continue my passion and work of Art through Competitions local and national, with Culinary being a Male Dominating field, as Women I like to strive hard to encourage other women to achieve any goals you have. This world has so many opportunities, and even though we wear many, many hats, it can all happen with time, hard work and will to not give up. I

Am the owner of Toffee Culinary Company, we are full-service Catering Co offering meal prep to our clients, some of which are Non-profit organizations, City workers who are also hard working business owners such as Yoga studio owners, Community Developers, Teachers, Masseuse.

Great, 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?
Mainly, the highs and Lows of the food industry, food is always in demand, but Sometimes can be trendy, from one extreme to the next, that’s why on the down season we offer Innovative cooking lessons to keep our company active, and we are flexible to keep our clients intrigued and our competition guessing.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Toffee Culinary – what should we know?
I specialize in comfort food, with a Gourmet taste. I will not only make you full, but I can help you enjoy it at no cost to your health. Some of my most sought after selection are my appetizers, such as stuffed shrimp, Stuffed turkey burger sliders, fried fish tacos, and stuffed salmon. We also love making brunch items, such as Brioche french toast, pumpkin spice waffles, red velvet waffles, and spinach quiche Loraine. Southern Charm is our aime.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Smiles go very far and getting to know my clientele, I enjoy people, and they enjoy me! Be yourself. Trends come and go, do what is close to your heart.

Pricing:

• Meal Prep Starting at 12.99 (delivered cooked to you)
• Party Trays for the holidays starting at 18.99
• Book any event and Save $25 off

Contact Info:

• Phone: (682)221-3010
• Email: toffee.latoyapolk@gmail.com
• Instagram: Toffeeculinary
• Facebook: @Toffeeeventsandcatering
• Twitter: Youtube: Toffeecooks

Image Credit:
Samaira Polk Photography

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