My name is Venes Whitney- Legall. I was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, with roots deeply

embedded in the Carolinas, as my parents hail from both North and South Carolina. My passion

for cooking began when I was just 3 years old, and my mother loves to tell the story of how I

could crack an egg perfectly into a bowl without a single shell. Cooking runs in my blood, with

both sides of my family being exceptional in the kitchen.

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I have vivid memories of watching my father whip up mouth-watering dishes like stewed crabs,

fried fish, sausage and peppers, and his famous deep-dish sweet potato pie. My mother’s

specialties included collard greens, fried chicken, stuffing, baked chicken, and cornbread, while

my grandmother was renowned for her legendary macaroni and cheese and homemade cakes.

As I grew older, I found myself dreaming up new recipes and experimenting with them, sharing

these culinary creations with my family.

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In 2003, I realized that I wanted to pursue a career as a caterer. At the time, I was working for

the Department of Education, which made balancing both roles challenging. Despite this, I

seized opportunities to cater various school events, including Principal’s staff meetings, staff

development sessions, monthly honor breakfasts, school dances, and proms. Over the years,

my passion for cooking continued to grow, and I knew I wanted to make it my full-time career.

Encouraged by my husband, Laurence "Larry," I decided to follow my dream. In 2022, after 24

years of service, I retired to pursue my passion for catering full-time.