We recently connected with Lili Gonzalez and have shared our conversation below.
Lili, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.
I keep my creativity alive by always experimenting and letting my business inspire me. With my catering and charcuterie boards, I never create the same thing twice. I play with colors, flavors, and textures, and I love finding ways to make every board or grazing table feel unique to the occasion. I get ideas from the seasons, from my travels, and even from what my family is craving at the moment. My customers trust me to surprise them, and that motivates me to keep learning and trying new things. Creativity for me is not just about food, it is about creating experiences that bring people together and leave them with lasting memories.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am the owner of Mommy With Style and Graze, a licensed and insured veteran owned catering business that focuses on charcuterie, grazing tables, and specialty boards. What makes my business special is the way I personalize every order. No two boards are ever the same. I enjoy working with my clients to match their theme, their favorite foods, or the feeling they want to create for their guests. For me, it is more than food, it is about bringing people together and creating memories.
One of the most exciting parts of my journey has been watching how quickly the business has grown since I launched it in June 2024. I love seeing the community support and the trust my customers have placed in me to be part of their birthdays, weddings, graduations, and company events. My brand is always evolving, and I am looking forward to introducing more seasonal boards and expanding into larger events.
In addition to charcuterie, I also offer catering with homemade Mexican comfort foods. These are dishes I grew up eating and now I put my own touch on them. It has been special to share flavors that mean so much to me while creating new memories for my clients at their celebrations.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The three most important qualities in my journey have been perseverance, creativity, and connection. Perseverance has helped me push forward when things got overwhelming or when I doubted myself. Creativity is at the heart of what I do, from designing charcuterie boards to building menus that feel unique to every event. Connection has been just as important, because building relationships with my clients and my community is what has allowed my business to grow.
For anyone starting out, my advice is to believe in yourself even when things feel uncertain, keep your creativity alive by staying open to new ideas, and focus on building genuine relationships. Those three things can carry you through the ups and downs and help you create something that lasts.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
When I feel overwhelmed, I step away and do something that helps me reset. I like to take my dog for a walk or read a book because it gives me a break and clears my head. Funny enough, cooking is also something that calms me. Even though it is what I do for work, being in the kitchen and creating a meal brings me peace. My advice is to find simple things that make you feel grounded and turn to them when the stress starts to build up.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Mommywithstyleandgraze.com
- Instagram: Mommy_withstyleandgraze
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
