Meet Shanana Crawford of Nana’s Soul Kitchen in Peoria

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shanana Crawford.

Shanana, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started cooking as a child My granny was the one responsible for all these old school recipes she taught me to cook. Growing up I was surrounded by boy’s I was a Tomboy at heart but always loved cooking and learning. I believe as a child I was advanced way ahead of my time an old soul so to speak. I tried my hand at many things computerized Accounting, Cosmetology and I tried my hand at truck driving and driving the city bus. The love I have for filling people’s belly’s with a good meal always trumped the adventures. I traveled to many different places learned many different cultures I learned Jamaican Cuisine in my teen year’s growing up. From 2010 to late 2012 I opened CatDaddy’s Lounge learned a lot as a restaurateur up and downs being taken advantage of amongst other things it was a learning curve. I later went to the culinary school Art Institute of Phoenix where I studied Culinary Arts just for the paper and to have a broader spectrum on the cooking world as I was self taught Chef. I have been catering and cooking professionally for a little over 9.5 years. I love what I do al desserts are made from scratch all sauces from scratch with Love and Soul.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I started a restaurant and I had a bad Business partner that tried to push me out of the business and to make matters worse the family that we leased the building from stole all my equipment in an insurance scam but I made it still.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
All business is word of mouth. I’m in love in the kitchen I specialize in a great peach cobbler and known for my Honey gold wings and collard greens also my Jamaican Oxtail stew. I’m authentic with no fillers or box ingredients used. No short cuts.

What were you like growing up?
I was always to grown for my age way ahead of my time. I always was told by my granny that people would never forget me because I was one of a kind and unforgettable! I am an open book no hold barred.

Pricing:

• Peach Cobbler full pan $50
• Oxtail Stew $18.00
• Custom Cakes $25.00 and up

Contact Info:

• Address: Phone number to text or call for order’s is 731-501-1380
  Facebook: Nana’s Soul Kitchen
  IG: Nana’s _Soul_Kitchen
• Phone: 731-501-1380
• Email: chefnana1125@gmail.com
• Instagram: Nana’s _Soul_Kitchen
• Facebook: Nana’s Soul Kitchen
• Yelp: Nana’s soul kitchen

Image Credit:
DsD Media

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