Meet Baxter McDonald | Owner & Executive Chef of Emerald Sky Catering

We had the good fortune of connecting with Baxter McDonald and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Baxter, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
The thoughts of starting my own business have been brewing for years. I have always known I wanted to become a business owner. I come from a family of entrepreneurs, so for me the question was, “what my business was going to be”. As soon as I got introduced to the culinary world, I jumped full-fledged. I quickly realized I wanted to own my own catering company and restaurant.

For years I worked under some of the metroplex’s top chefs and restauranteurs. I wanted to learn as much as I could under great mentors before stepping out on my own. I have had the honor of working under amazing employers that taught me endless information about what it takes to start a business in this industry. My wife Courtney has also worked in the service industry as well as a wedding photographer, with her help we plan to build a multifaceted business. Emerald Sky Company will offer catering, photography, rentals and more as the company continues to grow.

When the time came for me to create my business name and model, I wanted it to represent me. I came up with Emerald Sky Catering. This name comes from thinking of my grandmother and the pair of emerald green birds she passed down to me.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
When I was 18, I started as a food delivery driver, as soon as I set my eyes on the kitchen I knew I wanted to be in there. I soon became a dishwasher at a highly regarded local restaurant, Trio New American by Jason Harper. I worked for him for many years working through all of the stations and positions. That restaurant set my foundation for quality food and service. From there I continued on a journey working at many great local restaurants, corporate kitchens and also the top regarded catering companies in DFW.

The journey of a cook is always an intense journey. Working in any kitchen anywhere takes endless dedication and passion to get you through the long hot hours; especially in this Texas heat. All of that said, for me it is the most gratifying job I could have had. Seeing a customers face light up when they take a bite of food that I created and cooked was one of the best feelings I have ever had. I was never there most creative type of person when I was young but that all changed when I started taking food serious. I had finally found something that I exceeded at, loved to do and got recognition for doing so,

My father always said “find a Job that does not feel like work when you are there”. That is what I did, even through the hardest times at any job I’ve had, the kitchen has always felt like my safe place.

through all of the chefs and companies I have worked for, I like to think I took pieces from each and every job. I use those different backgrounds, cultures, business models to create my business Emerald Sky.

My wife also has a similar story with her career through the service industry and photography. She runs her own photography company which we plan to merge with Emerald Sky. We together want to build a company that supplies our metroplex with everything needed for weddings. Catering. Photography, rentals and more.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would stay at a cool unique airbnb like the one my family owns in the Stockyards. It is called the “Bordello”. It was named because the building that it sits in was a brothel from the old cowboy days. The building and airbnb feels like you are stepping back in time.

I would then walk down to my families furniture store “Into the West” and take a look at all of the cool furniture and decorations that are the essence of Fort Worth.

Maybe go grab a bite at Joe T’s and don’t forget to get you a margarita.

Another fun thing to do is hire Courtney McDonald for some cool Fort Worth portraits down at the water gardens.

I love to grab me a Avoca coffee and head down to the Modern Museum.

Catch me having dinner at Piatello then headed down town to the comedy club for a good laugh.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There is no denying that I have worked under many great chefs and restauranteurs throughout my career. I must give thanks to every Chef I have worked under as each mentor has taught me different traits that have grown me as a chef.

But the people I give the most credit to are my parents. They have owned multiple businesses throughout my lifetime, from fruit stands, movie rentals, to furniture stores and much in between. Through them I have learned that having a good business model, trusted employees and the drive to get through thick and thin, you can create success.

Website: www.emeraldskyco.com

Instagram: emeraldskycatering

Facebook: Emerald Sky Catering

Image Credits
Courtney McDonald Photography