Meet Carine Merritt

We were lucky to catch up with Carine Merritt recently and have shared our conversation below.

Carine, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?

My optimism comes from deeply understanding that everyday isn’t going to be easy. I understand that the only way to appreciate the good is to go through the bad. Life is about balance. Taking the good with the bad. Everything that happens to us is a part of the journey. We are all meant to grow and evolve and experience new things. Good and bad. I’ve always viewed the world differently. I always look for the good in all people, places and things. Optimism isn’t about being happy all the time, that is literally impossible, being optimistic is choosing to see the good in all things and not allowing anything to keep you down. Always believe something good is about to happen.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

Hi, my name is Carine (Patterson) Merritt. I am a 37 year old multifaceted creative who loves to learn as well as teach. I am a Jamaican and Cuban Chef, a Model, an Actress, a Writer, and a full time Bank Teller. I was born in Jamaica, Queens and I grew up on Long Island. I moved to Buffalo, NY in 2010 after graduating from trade school as a Certified Pharmacy Technician. I worked as a Pharmacy Technician for about 8 years then decided I wanted to pursue my true passion. I left the healthcare profession and started to work full-time in the hospitality industry. I obtained a position as a Line Cook at Olive Garden during the week and then secured a position at a local university, D’Youville College, as the Supervising Chef on the weekends. After about 2 years, in 2019, I decided I wanted to start my own business, Carine’s Caribbean Cuisine LLC. I provide Private Chef Experiences as well as teaching cooking classes for children, teens and adults. I have a podcast available on YouTube called “Let’s Get It In with Chef Carine” which focuses on what inspires entrepreneurs to become entrepreneurs! I also have a homemade Caribbean Green Seasoning that I offer through my Etsy shop! My inspiration and greatest accomplishment is my 3 boys, Sean, Christopher and Jacob. They inspire me every day to keep going and never give up. I was diagnosed with cervical cancer back in 2021 and after several procedures, I am blessed to be cancer free. I am extremely grateful for each day and I take nothing for granted. I am building an empire that I can pass down to my children and the future generations after them. My health conscious Jamaican and Cuban fusion cuisine is what sets me apart from others. I am very proud of my unique heritage. My cooking skills and experience come from my parents and grandparents. I whole heartedly enjoy teaching people how to cook and I make it a priority to show people how to truly enjoy the art of cooking. Cooking is an essential life skill that I believe more people should learn. I want my clients, followers and fans to know that if you receive any service from me or work with me in any capacity, I do everything with love. Love is always the secret ingredient.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, I think the three qualities that were the most impactful in my journey would have to be my resilience, my ability to give myself and others grace and my willingness to listen and learn. The best advice I would give folks who are early in their journey is to keep going. The journey to success is not easy but it’s worth it. One very important part of the journey to remember is your reason for being on the journey. Through the good and the bad, don’t forget to reason you started your journey in the first place.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

When I feel overwhelmed I like to pause, take a deep breath, rest and reflect. I enjoy meditating and doing breath work to help keep me calm and focused. Feeling overwhelmed sometimes is normal. You just have to remember to rest, not quit.

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