Today we’d like to introduce you to Sonya and Keith Dorsey.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’m the Executive Chef/Lead Chef Instructor for City Square FSH Program, I have been cooking and baking from scratch since the age of nine. In 2012, my husband and I moved to Texas to follow my dream as a Chef, after finishing Culinary College at Le Cordon Bleu, as a Baking & Pastry Chef, & taking the Culinary Arts class to be a double threat in the industry, we started Definitely Dorsey Designer Cake and catering.
My love for cooking and baking gave my husband the desire to learn the craft, he also got certified as a culinarian and learned to design cakes. He is now known as Chef Keith Dorsey.
We have cooked, baked and catered parties for various celebrities, I’m a motivational speaker and catered many events that raised money for Domestic violence awareness as well as being a Culinary Arts Instructor for a Non-Profit in South Dallas, I wrote the curriculum for the program and have been teaching for 2 1/2 years.
While cooking for several celebrities we were asked the same question over, and over again, what seasonings do you use for your food, the answer has always been the same, “I make them myself.” I was told that I was sitting on a gold mine and that other people needed to experience these amazing tastes, my husband and I brainstormed, and Saucy Sonya’s Spices & Sauces was born.
With lots of trial and error, I have come up with savory ingredients that are Non-GMO, No salt, all-natural, NO MSG, but have enough flavor to add the “umph” back into any meal, we make seasonings, sauces, spice packs, infused oils, meatloaf mixes, bread, biscuit mixes and more.
Our first ingredient in all of our products is “Love”, with love, good ingredients, hard work, and passion, we plan on taking Saucy Sonya’s to greater heights.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The hardest thing about working with spices and seasonings is finding ways to make savory seasonings with good taste without using salt. We have spent and still spend hours and sometimes days putting flavors together, sometimes arguing back and forth until we find the right combination that we both approve of.
Marketing is hard also, you want to create a buzz, but when you are just starting new business money is tight, and you try to hit every free advertising platform that is available. Sometimes it works, other times you have to really push, we know the product is amazing, because of the good reviews from our website, we just need more people to see, and try them.
Obtaining vendor spots is trying also, they are very expensive, so we try to hit the less expensive events to sign up for, that way even if it’s a small group, someone will see our products, try them and tell a friend.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Saucy Sonya’s Spices & Sauces – what should we know?
Saucy Sonya’s Spices & Sauces is known for putting together herbs & spices to create our delicious seasonings. Our specialties range from our savory seasonings which contain no salt to our Biscuit mixes, meatloaf mixes, Fish Fry, Chicken Fry and more.
We are set apart from other seasoning companies because we are more than seasonings, we have a wide variety of creations that add spice to your kitchen. We put rare combinations together and they work, and they are flavorful enough to make you crave more.
We have given our seasonings some very unique names, this will set them apart from all others, we have “Black Jezuz Blackening seasoning” (guaranteed to Bless your meal) We have “Buck Azz Naked All Purpose seasoning” (It’s so good, it’s guaranteed to get you out of your clothes), we have “Booty Butt Cheekz” (guaranteed to make an Azz out of our competition), the Biscuit mix is called “My Grandmama nem Biscuit Mix” because the recipe goes back generations and it’s delicious.
We love the reactions that we get from people who see and read our story via the website.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My biggest supporter is my husband, as well as cheerleader, head coach, and Quarterback, we push each other and challenge each other daily to go higher, the expectations that we have are so grand, we push until there is a breakthrough.
He says I inspire him to work hard and accomplish his dreams that are separate, and the ones we share as a team.
He and I have spent days in a room brainstorming, figuring out measurements, etc. it has not been easy, and still not easy but we are making it happen, one seasoning, spice, and sauce at a time.
Pricing:
- Prices Vary on different products, but most are constantly the same.
- 4 oz spices $4, 8 oz spices $ 7.50. 16 oz $12, the Fish Fry and Chicken Fry range from $10-15
- The Biscuit mixes range from $8-$15, as well as the meatloaf mix $7 pricing varies for the infused oils and sauces
Contact Info:
- Website: saucysonyaspices.com
- Phone: 817-897-2809
- Email: saucysonyaspices@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saucysonyaspices/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saucysonyaspices/#
Image Credit:
Chef Keith and Chef Sonya Dorsey created all foods, seasonings and sauces
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