Meet Brandon Emmitt

We were lucky to catch up with Brandon Emmitt recently and have shared our conversation below.

Brandon , we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
I come from the ghetto, we didn’t have a car to get around so we had to walk everywhere. I remember going to school with holes in my shoes. Outside playing as kids seeing drugs on the ground. Having gangs shooting at each other in my neighborhood. I remember seeing my dad work long hours and days just to make ends meet.

I remember growing up having family and friends telling me that I would never be or have anything in life. As a kid, I had an uncle and a teacher that would consistently tell me how ugly I was. Many people would look down on me. So as a kid, I had low esteem.

I remember when my parents divorced, my mom was stuck with all the bills. Not being able to afford to pay all the bills. We lived for many months with no electricity, not having enough food to eat, a/c, etc…

My Resilience comes from remembering my past and working hard for a better future, reminiscing on those moments and using them as fuel and motivation.

So I love being the underdog; the worst thing anybody can say to me is what I can’t have or do. I’m going to do anything within my power to make you eat every word you said negatively about me.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
My name is Brandon Emmitt the owner/chef of Emmitt’s Catering. I have been in the business for 17 years now.

As a boy growing up, my dad was the primary cook for the family. While my mother was big on education. My parents kept us in church and busy with school. So, there wasn’t time for anything else. It was church, school, and home-cooked meals lol. That’s all I knew until my teenage years.

When I was a senior in high school my parents were heading towards a divorce. After my parent’s divorced my mother became very ill. That was one of my low moments as a teenager. I remember thinking to myself how am I going to get through this?

My dad was gone and I found myself in a position to make some tough, life decisions. Not having the answers, I knew who did ”GOD”. I got on my knees and begin to pray to ask GOD to be my dad and to show me the way. Through prayer, I was able to reflect on things that molded and shaped my values to have direction. I remember watching my dad cook in the kitchen as a boy. I learned to develop a passion for food. Later leading me to culinary school to study food more in-depth.

While attending culinary college that’s when I came across my mentor Chef Robert Bifulco. We develop a strong relationship like father & son. I believe GOD led me to him because he stayed on me and kept me grounded. Later realizing not only need skill development but also personal development.

After graduating from college at the top of my class with an Associate Of Applied Science Culinary Arts Degree. Working at various major hotels as a dishwasher was the beginning of my career as a professional culinarian. Working for different chefs and moving up in the ranks,

Soon realizing I wanted to start my own business. I always had the idea and felt that I was doing most of the work. The chefs were taking most of the money home. So why not work for me? I was just ready to go ahead and do my own thing.

I was tired of feeling like a loser. Tired of working long hours & days, and having nothing to show for it. By stepping out on faith in 2014 Emmitt’s Catering became a reality and has been a success, and is based in Southlake, Texas since 2016.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Keep GOD first, have a vision, never settle, believe in yourself, work hard, keep, and hold tight until your dream becomes a reality.

I learned that you have to be open-minded to life challenges to be ready to adapt to change. Everybody doesn’t want you to be successful, happy for you, or will support you.

That’s why it’s personal to me! By making every dish with love. It’s your dream so protect it, and when opportunities knock be ready to go for it without fear. You have to be fearless!!

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
The Bible!

Proverbs 3,6 ”In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy path.

As a boy growing up my parents kept us in church and busy with school. So, there wasn’t much time for anything else. It was church, school, and home-cooked meals. I give and credit GOD as the foundation of who I am and how far I come in life,

Throughout the years I have found myself in many tough solutions where I had to make some tough life decisions. Having been taught faith at a very young age made an impact on how I tackle life’s circumstances. I do what I know best which is to get on my knees and cry out before GOD asking for guidance.

All credit goes to GOD for all my success, GOD is my CEO I’m the President.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
I give honor to GOD My mother Vanessa Emmitt My church Full Gospel Holy Temple

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