Meet LaChunda Reed | Caterer

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

Hi LaChunda, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
It was in 2016 after losing my mother Marva Lane Perry-Kenner that is when the name was a no brainer Peach Lane Kitchen and that is how I came up with my concept. I just started selling $10 soul food plates out of my grandmothers’ house everyday. Cooking relaxes me and it feels good to my soul and I love to watch people take their first bite of my dishes. My family has always made our own seafood and that is how my Bo$$ Seafood Sauce came about and after posting a photo I started selling boils and people started requesting for me to make different dishes. I come from humble beginnings and have definitely started from the bottom.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My name is LaChunda “Peach” Reed. I am a 70’s baby and was born in Texarkana, TX to teenage parents. I was raised by my loving Grandmother Hazel Perry until the age of 3 in New Boston, TX. My mother Marva “Lane” Perry graduated and moved to Dallas, TX to start a better life for us. My mother moved to Oak Cliff, TX to Wynnewood Village where I was raised from the age of 5. I went to school at Margaret B Henderson elementary from Kindergarten till 6th grade. We left The Cliff and moved to Arlington which at that time was a culture shock for me. I started to rebel and began getting into trouble and fights and got kicked out of Jr High. Then we were evicted from our apartment because of me so my mom decided to move to Irving. I attended Jr High and High School in Irving and graduated from Nimitz High School class of 1993. College was never on my forecast I wanted to party too much so I decided to get a job and chill after high school. I got into trouble and spent some time locked up and when I got out I decided that was not the lifestyle that I wanted. So I had my first child D’Asia at 24. She changed my life for the better. I said I would never have kids after almost losing my life having her and went on to have 3 more children DaiShawn 20 RoseMarie 12 and Willie Jr 3.

I lost my mother in 2016 to a heart attack at the age of 59. In 2017 I found out I was pregnant at 43 years old and also that I was being laid off all in the same week. I was on an emotional roller coaster but I trusted in God and started cooking more and more for theraputic reasons. I found out that cooking is very relaxing and that it was my passion. All those years watching Granny and Mama finally paid off. My mother was the best cook in the world and often had many requests for her dishes as she was an amazing baker. Thanksgiving has not been the same since she left here. One day I was asked why I didn’t sell my food that I posted on Social Media and I thought to myself “Hmmm, why don’t I sell food?” So there was the idea, but I did not act on it. I just kept cooking for family and friends at gatherings. I began making homemade alfredo sauces and perfecting my seafood sauce for my boils. In 2019 I got word that my grandmothers’ health was deteriorating and she was falling more. I made the decision to move my family to the country because I felt that God cleared my path for this. April 2019 I became a Bowie County resident and became a full time caregiver to my favorite woman ever. I cooked for her every single day and she loved it! She motivated me to keep going on the days when I wanted to give up she told me to keep going.

It didn’t take long for me to come up with the name Peach Lane Kitchen & Catering. I am Peach and I learned from Lane in the Kitchen, it was a no brainer. I began selling $10 soul food plates, made to order seafood boils and desserts out of my granny’s kitchen. I got my business license and then my LLC. Then the pandemic hit and we were terrified. Business slowed down to a stand still because I was fearful of human contact and the thought of my granny being exposed to Covid was unbearable. During this time I began polishing my craft. I saw someone eating the most wonderful looking tacos that I had ever seen. So I did my research and found out they were called Quesa Birria tacos. The original recipe uses Goat and I decided to make this recipe my own. I bought a chuck roast and used the authentic spices and slow simmered the meat for 6 hours. What I came up with was something that we could not believe. With much trial and error I finally got the perfect flavor. We made it through the pandemic and hit the ground running came back like we never left. I started selling Peach Lane Original Beef Birria Style Tacos and Business was booming and I was making a name for myself in this town where no one knows me for cooking.

One day a total stranger reached out to me on Facebook after seeing my food and asked me to do my first Pop Up Shop. I thought about it and I was in a state of self doubt then finally decided to jump on board. I invested $100 into myself and it was the best investment that I ever made. A club owner heard about me and wanted someone to cook in his establishment. I want to send a special shout out to Reese Gaines of Just a Squirrel intimate toy boutique because without her motivation and believing in me and my business I would have still been sleeping on myself and my abilities. Also Damion “Dirty’ White for giving me and my business a chance to get my name out there in Texarkana, AR. This is who gave me my name “Taco Lady” Every since I have not looked back, I gained the confidence to do more catering events such as weddings and parties. I have since became well known for my tacos and made several different variations such as chicken birria, surf & turf which has shrimp and my Mardi Gras with all seafood and alfredo dipping sauce.

In 2021 I tragically lost my grandmother to medical negligence and I am working on bouncing back again. I will be making my grand re entrance to the Pop Up shop world on December 10. I have faced many obstacles but I refuse to give up on my dream of helping the less fortunate. I will continue production on my Food Truck that I have been building since 2020. No weapon formed against me shall prosper. If God is with me who can be against me? —

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My favorite spots in the city would be Tru Kitchen and Cocktails to eat and drink

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My granny Hazel Evenelle Perry was my biggest supporter. She loved all my dishes and always told me she loved me. She supported my dreams and always encouraged me to keep going. I want to recognize her may she rest easy.

Website: Peachlanekitchen@bigcartel.com

Instagram: PeachLaneKitchen

Facebook: Peach Lane Kitchen

Youtube: Peach Lane Mobile Kitchen