Meet Raehanna Evans

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Raehanna Evans a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Raehanna, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

Imposter Syndrome can be the thief of Joy if you allow it to be. I overcame this feeling by deciding to enroll in culinary school. As a child, I always enjoyed cooking In Da’ Kitchen with my loved ones. Cooking gives me a sense of peace and pride knowing I put a smile on everyone’s faces with something I created. My ultimate goal has always been to have my own restaurant one day to combat the feeling of self doubt I thought it would be smart to get my culinary degree and prove even though I am still a great chef without the degree I am an even better one because of it. Perfecting and crafting my skills showcased my love for the art as well as the determination to get my entrepreneurship journey started. Yes, there are a lot of chefs in the industry but one thing I had to remember is all of our journeys are different and we are each special in our own way. Comparing to others can cause the imposter syndrome and even more self doubt but when you are only comparing with your own highlight reel its easier to stay focused on the goal and grow!

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am from Goldsboro, NC, home of the Seymour Johnson Air force base. Growing up, I often helped prepare meals, tutoring others in math, and staying busy with extracurricular activities. I graduated from The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance in 2017. In April of 2017, my heart spoke and I took a leap of faith by enrolling at Central Piedmont Community College to obtain my Culinary degree. On May 16th, 2019 I received my Associate’s degree in Culinary Arts and started my catering business In’ Da Kitchen LLC.

My dreams started to come to fruition. I believe my purpose has always been to work with numbers, as well as putting smiles on people’s faces with my delicious meals.

The different health issues myself and family endured due to the meals consumed made me wonder, “ What can I do to fix that? As I thought about how I could help, it brought me back to where it all started, In Da’ Kitchen. The love, comfort, and energy I receive from being In Da’ Kitchen is the same way I plan to help others better their eating habits.

In Da’ Kitchen provides catering to events up to 200 people, Private Chef Events, and are available for ordering on Ubereats… We do it all!

Check out what’s cookin’ In Da’ Kitchen on our social platforms(instagram/tiktok: @indakitchenllc)or our website (indakitchenllc.com)

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?

Networking
Network, Network, Network! You never know who you may meet. Always be ready to promote your business whether thats in the grocery store, airport, or even the gas station. In this day and age, its all about who you know. Building connections with the right people can truly set you up for success or failure. If you don’t promote your business no one will ever know it exists. You might have to step out of your comfort zone a little bit but go into the conversation optimistic and get to know the person a little before you give your “elevator speech” about your business.

Adaptability
Understand that everything does not always go according to your plans but you have to be adaptable in the culinary industry at all times. Taking a moment to think “how can I work smarter and not harder?” will always be a good rule of thumb to get you out of even the most chaotic situations. Being adaptable comes with recognizing the plan might change a bit but the overall outcome will still be the same so no need to cry over spilled milk, just find the solution.

Time Management
The focus of time in the service industry is super important. Your time is just as precious as your clients so keep in mind when it’s time to have an event somethings have to be done days in advance before the event. From grocery and equipment shopping to prepping food, these things take time. To ensure you are over prepared it is best to keep a planner, notes, and alarms. These all help with the management of time to yield best efficiency results. Another way to aid with the management of time is to DELEGATE, DELEGATE, DELEGATE!!! Those tasks that take up a little more time than expected can be passed off to those who are there to help you. You are not superwoman/man and even though you can do it alone it never hurts to ask for help!

Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?

The book that has been the most impactful on how I handle day to day life is “The Four Agreements” by Don Ruiz. It gives you 4 simple Agreements to live by:

1. Be impeccable with your word- the words you speak have power and should only be used to speak in truth and love. Be careful with what you say as much as how you say it.

2. Don’t take anything personally- the world does not revolve around you! The actions of others is a reflection of their own reality and is separate from yours. Don’t allow what they do to effect how you operate.

3. Don’t make assumptions- communicate with others no matter the circumstance. To create a positive environment ask questions before jumping to conclusions or creating misunderstandings. Express what you want in a clear and concise manner without being rude.

4. Always do your best- everyday is not going to be 100% your best self but when you wake up and give it all that you have or try to do better than the day before you are already ahead of the curve in hitting the mark. “If at first you don’t succeed, dust yourself off and try again!” , in the words of the singer Aaliyah.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.indakitchenllc.com/
• Instagram: @indakitchenllc
• Facebook: Rae Evans
• Other: Tiktok: indakitchenllc