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

Hi Eboni, what inspires you?
My inspiration for my business is my dearly departed father and my son. My father was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) when I was only 6 months old. I grew up only knowing my father to be sick and ill. I know this is when the desire to become a doctor & to heal people was rooted in me. I watched him quickly, yet at the same time slowly deteriorate to a vegetative state for many years. He passed away the day after I graduated from college. My grandmother told me that she visited him and told him I had graduated college with honors, and he smiled for the first time in a very long time, and he then passed away in the early morning hours the next day. I will be celebrating my 41st birthday this month, and at this age my father was already in a permanent incapacitated state. I knew at an early age that I wanted to understand how the body worked. I was a very emotionally sensitive child and even into my adult years, drawn to helping the sick, weak and those in need. Although my path did not take me to medical school, I have attained a BS in Biology, Masters of Public Health, and Certified Health Coach. I am an avid student of life and how the world and the human body works down to the molecular level and beyond. I know that my experience watching my dad, slowly succumb to his body attacking itself is the motivating factor to the foundation of my business. I have never physically, mentally, or emotionally felt better in my life. I attribute that to not only helping others discover healthier lifestyle options, but I also diligently practice what I preach. I am now a mother of a teenage son, and I also want to set an example of what hard work, dedication, and following my dreams looks like. It is my goal to teach him the skills he needs so that he can be a productive member of society and proud of himself for the character of man that he will continue to evolve into.

What should our readers know about your business?
I specialize in Vegan and Vegetarian Soul Food. I think what sets my business apart from most is that I have the creative skills to make the most amazing vegan dishes. While also having in my arsenal the educational and professional background that encompasses health, nutrition and how integral the two are to the quality of life of individuals and our society. My friends and customers say that I am a magician on how I can transform vegetables into dishes that are so close to the traditional Southern carnivorous fare. My menu and approach to food is to not only stick to the loose definition of plant based dishes, but to also make sure that what I prepare is nutritionally sound as well, and supports optimal health. This journey has not been easy, but it has definitely been worth it. I say all the time that being a successful entrepreneur is feat for character development. It is definitely more of a mental challenge than anything else. When I am focused, confident, and persistent my life feels like a magic carpet ride. I have spent my fair share of days in the valley of the shadows of doubt, fear, anxiety and depression. Throughout this journey I have been able to fine tune and cultivate the woman I want to be and the business I want to create. I do not just offer one service or product. That has been one of the aspects that made it difficult for me at times to navigate which direction I wanted to follow. I often feel like Veruca Salt from Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory. I want it all and I want it NOW! Minus the tantrums, well maybe not as many now anyways! I have learned how to integrate the many facets of my business and now I am focusing on building a team that will be able to support all the many services and products that I have and will create to improve the quality of lives of those I have the privilege of serving. I am a hopeless romantic, optimist, and love to discover the beauty of the world around me. Even when we are in living in such uncertain times, I see my purpose in life is to help those who are also seeking to ease the discomfort from the ills of the world, one dish at a time!

Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
I am an outdoorsy type of girl. So I would probably want to visit a few of my favorite hiking trails Tandy Hills Park, Sansom Park and Cedar Hill State park are 3 of my favorite spots to walk. In Fort Worth, there is a new coffee spot called Black Coffee that we would definitely visit to talk and chat. I love to dance so we could go to an African Dance class that a group called Bando Koro teaches or one of my good friends Hathor Hendrix leads on the weekends. There is a juice bar in Dallas called Recipe Oakcliff we could fresh juices from after our dance class. One of my favorite spots to listen to live music & get a tasty cocktail is Sandaga 813.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My Son, Elijah for sure. He doesn’t like for me to put him in the lime light, but he is definitely my biggest motivating factor and encourager. I love how honest he is with me and the pride he takes in seeing me grow my business. I do this for him on so many levels, and I could never quit because of him either.

Website: www.ChefEboniDionne.com
Instagram: @ChefEboniDionne
Twitter: @ChefEboniDionne
Facebook: @ChefEboniDionne @reBirthofFood
Yelp: reBirth of Food and reBirth of Fruit
Youtube: Chef Eboni Dionne

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