Today we’d like to introduce you to Lee & Cierra Powell.
Hi Lee & Cierra, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Meet The Powell’s! Lee & Cierra – Owners and operators of a small black business called “All Things Gourmet” est. in 2020! Formerly known as All Things Brunch & Bundt’s, we started out of our home as a Husband & Wife Team. We are a certified, licensed & insured catering service that started out doing baked goods and treats with occasional Brunch catering. We grew quickly and were called upon to cater ALL THINGS EVENT, hence the name change to All Things Gourmet.
We now specialize in gourmet catering and baking for all types of events from Birthday parties and Baby showers, to weddings, retirement parties & anniversaries with a wide variety of eats, sweets, & treats.
This all began during the Christmas holiday of 2020. We had just become married in October of 2020 and with newlywed expenses we didn’t have the money we typically would have to buy all of our family and friends Christmas gifts as we would usually do. But then Cierra was inspired with a great idea to make Christmas cookie gift boxes to give our close circle as gifts for the holiday. “Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;” literally. The kids were gone, we had the house to ourselves. That evening turned into a fun night of baking with Bae and a little date night for us that evening. As we crafted and baked our favorite cookies. Like most couples, what better way to get the evening going by taking a selfie? Lol. (Cierra’s past time) She posted it on Facebook. – “Baking homemade Cookies and cakes for the holiday with hubby! #JustTheTwoOfUs “. This led to several compliments and inquiries on the post. Our friends posted “I want some” and “how much for a dozen? ”. Not thinking too much of it because it was just facebook and we responded like anyone else would, until multiple messages hit our DMs saying ” I am serious, I want to order some cookies!” Unbelievably, we ended Christmas Eve with over 18 orders & 28 dozen cookie orders to fulfill by the next morning. Christmas Day! WOW! We didn’t have the supplies nor the ingredients, but with GOD, “ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE” and God did just that and made it possible! This inspired us and on January 2, 2021, we started All Things Brunch & Bundt’s.
Before we even thought of the business, Cierra used to bake many years ago as a hobby prior to her first marriage. She lost all her passion after the divorce and never thought twice about regaining the passion to bake even as a hobby. But when the pandemic became a world issue in March of 2020, Cierra was working in the medical field, where she was a first point of contact to patients and in the line of fire. Like a lot of people, it was hitting home that this was real and like everyone else, there were major concerns for her health and safety as well as for their family. So, with prayer and discussion, Lee and Cierra trusted in God and made the decision for her to resign for the safety of their family. We trusted God. We had to depend on Lee’s income from his job which had always been a work from home position. It was a tough decision for Cierra as she had been an independent woman working and taking care of her own children until she met and married Lee so life changed drastically for her. Along with that, the world was at a standstill as we all lived in an invisible bubble during the pandemic. But we did not live in Fear.
It wasn’t long before she realized she was just “Planted & not buried”. Fast forward to 2021, God reminded her of her purpose. Baking was her Purpose, her Passion, her Pride! So, we launched our business with “Crazy Faith” and watched God grow our business which made room for Lee to get involved and to bring his passion of cooking into the business. We expanded our services and became “All Things Gourmet”. In the midst of the pandemic, we truly saw that All things are possible with GOD, Matthew 19:26.
Our small business BLEW UP! We have grown and are still growing. Oftentimes, we would post pictures on social media. Our friends would share the post and people would just reach out to inquire “if we cater ”, “Can you make a birthday cake”? “Have you ever made candy apples?” We had no intentions for our business to “glow” up, in this fashion. We assumed it would be a “here & there “ experience. We gained most of our customers from Facebook, word of mouth & from small pop-up shops. Ms. Toni Campbell of House of Royalty helped us to get exposure to the community through several of her sold-out “Block Party pop-up” events on the northeast side of San Antonio. We have traveled to Austin for a pop-up shop and our cookies have been shipped to as far as California! We’ve also serviced several customers who have traveled from surrounding cities of Texas. Our mini-bundts was also showcased at San Antonio’s Jacked Potato, thanks to Ms. Jacci & San Antonio’s Favorite BBQ spot, Brooks BBQ, Thanks to Mr. Brooks! Since then, we have produced 1000’s of mini-Bundts, hundreds of birthday cakes, a host of catered brunches, baby shower events, weddings & more. We also have an awesome partnership with Timeless Event planning LLC, Perfect Pour and several other event centers, who have added our business to their directories for customers in need of our services. We have received tons of compliments, reviews & referrals from people & customers all over San Antonio. With God’s Grace, Cierra was the winner of Urban Soul’s Whip It or Nah 2021 Christmas Baking Competition. We have catered for our local H.E.B Partners as well as recently being the featured caterer for the VIP Guest of San Antonio African American Community Archive & Museum’s first Annual Fiesta Blues Event.
We have always been taught that when you want something different, you have to do and be different and in 2021 we evolved into a different level of business, a different level of living, and a different level of serving. Most of all, we have evolved into a different level of blessings for our lives and the ability to be a blessing to others! And we have done this walking hand in hand with God and each other. Jeremiah 29:11 – talks about the Plans God has for us and we know God has truly blessed us to be the Powell “Power Couple” to bring a little flavor into the community! We can truly say that we are “living the Blessed Life”!
We look forward to having all our family, friends, and supporters come along with us on this journey and testimony for our lives. Two minds, two hearts, and two souls, that God has given a “Crazy “ vision to bless the world with the gift & passion for cooking delicious brunch and bundt cakes that will bring the world some joy.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road has been challenging running a home-based business and scaling to the size of opportunities that we have accomplished. Especially with large event requests and even long-distance requests from other cities & states. We can definitely say that learning how to grow a business from home has been a learning experience that God has Graced us to accomplish.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
As All Things Brunch & Bundt’s, in which we have rebranded and are now All Things Gourmet, as we started based at home as a Husband & Wife Team. We are a certified, licensed & insured catering service. That started out doing baked goods and treats with the occasional Brunch catering. We grew quickly and were called upon to cater ALL Event types!
We now specialize in gourmet catering and baking for all types of events from Birthday parties and Baby showers, to Weddings and anniversaries with a wide variety of eats, sweets, & treats. Our menu provides a wide variety of brunch, soul food and finger foods items as well as a highly sought-after selection of cakes, mini cakes, cupcakes, Bundt cakes, cookies, chocolate-covered treats, and treats tables & candy apples for all occasions & events.
What sets us apart from others is that we pride ourselves in serving others well and elevating the experience of events we cater by providing the memorable taste & look of ALL THINGS food & treats. Oh, and not to mention our Charing demeanors!
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
As the world opens back up, we do see more opportunities & events for us to be of service. This will take us to our goal for 2022 to grow and gain more exposure to the community, partner with even more community advocates, event centers and local companies as well as our dream to have a brick & mortar that we can host & provide our great services to the community for years to come and to be able to pass our business to our children while creating generational wealth.
In the next 5-10 years, we see ourselves as the premier caters for San Antonio & the surrounding cities. And to be able to share our passions and gifts with individuals & groups of people, from kids to couples, grandma’s & grandpa’s who would love to learn or share the joy of cooking and baking.
Contact Info:
- Email: allthingsgourmet356@
gmail.com - Instagram: https://www.
instagram.com/allthings_ brunchnbundts/ - Facebook: https://www.
facebook.com/ allthingsbrunchNbundts
