Meet Zameika Williams | Chef, Entrepreneur, Culinary Arts Instructor

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

Hi Zameika, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Being an entrepreneur is a part of my genetic makeup. I come from a long line of business owners and I want to continue the legacy. The idea of creating something that provides an enjoyable experience and a memory for my family and community creates a peace within my own soul. When I initially went into business I had just had my youngest daughter (now 11 y,o) and I was working in corporate America as a financial advisor. I wanted something I could pass along to them so I started my first business Jade Events & Catering and named it after my daughters. The JA is for Jamie and the DE is for Deyja. My next business was ZPack Meal Prep, a healthy meal prep service, and my third business is Luckey G’s Bistro (My foodtruck). A tribute to my Grandmother Geraldine Stewart (maiden name Luckey) and my Grandfather William F Garner aka Mr. G. All of that was bonded together under LGL Hospitality, LLC (Luckey G’s Legacy).

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
By day I am a Culinary Arts instructor for Crowley ISD. I work at the Bill R Johnson Career and Technology center. and I am building 3 businesses. Luckey G’s Bistro, Jade Events and Catering, and LGL Hospitality, LLC.

I spend my day pouring culinary knowledge and life skills into my students and helping them determined what career path best suits them. I coach UIL competition teams for FCCLA and Prostart. I had to ask my coworkers what they feel sets me apart from others, they said, being average/the standard is never good enough for me. I wasn’t sure if that was a compliment or not but they assured me it was. Another coworker stated they admire my energetic spirit and passion to share my knowledge with others. Honestly, in my mind I am no different than anyone else. Everyday I wake up I make a decision to make the day great and to put my best foot forward in everything I do. Sometimes I hit the mark and sometimes I dont but the next day I am going to get up and making the same decision again. Doing that over and over again despite whatever obstacle is before me is how I feel I am able to continue moving forward. Being a teacher to todays students is not easy, being a parent to todays child, not easy, building a business by yourself is definitely not easy. Building a brand on your name and having to be vulnerable to the world is scary and its not easy. But everyday I show up with a smile, as cheerful as I can possibly be prepared to pour whatever I have into whomever needs it.

Im still learning how to overcome challenges and I am learning to allow people to help me in different capacities. Another way to keep chaos at a minimum is I have to write everything down. I have a giant to do list and a calendar that I take with me every where. That keeps me more organized than using my electronic planning devices.

I repeat two quotes in my head, often. “Perfection is the enemy of profitability,” said by Mark Cuban and “You can have it all. Just not all at once.” said by Oprah Winfrey. When I think about the quote from Oprah it helps me manage disappointment. Somedays I feel as though nothing is going right despite how hard I am trying and effort I am making but then I will go home and my house will be really clean and smelling good and everyone in the house is in a good mood, dinner is ready to go and I think to myself, Okay, Zameika, this is todays good, be grateful. Or it might be the opposite. My business will be on fire and I am kicking butt as a teacher and I go home to chaos and Im like what in the world! I can take a mental breather and know Ok this isn’t the good part today but you kicked butt on something else.

Mark Cubans quote gives me the internal peace to stop when I have exerted too much energy into things most people wont notice. I love to produce above expectations but sometimes I hyper focus on things and it costs me time, energy, and money. This quote reminds me perfection is not the goal.

Some of the best lessons I have learned are patience and grace with myself and others. Adulting and being a entrepreneur with a day job an family is hard and comes with struggles that sometimes cause you to lash out. I recently read a book called The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom. The biggest take away I had from this book is not t take things personal. By not taking others actions personal I am able to extend grace for things they do and say that I dont particularly agree with. I also realize I am not perfect and will always fall short of it. That’s ok. I dont have to be the best at anything, I just have to show and do my best everyday. Some people will love it and some people will not and that’s ok. I cant hold my worth on the thoughts of others. I hold it on the true effort I put in to be great.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love this question because I absolutely adore exploring! Some of my favorite spots in DFW are owned by friends of mine.

We are starting each day at a local coffee shop
Black Coffee
Love Local
Ampersand
Avoca Coffee Roasters
Summer Moon
Casa Azul

Local Breakfast/Brunch Spots
Press Cafe
Montgomery Street Cafe
Yogi’s Deli & Grill
Taste Community Project
Tributary Cafe
Doughboy Donuts

We are having lunch or dinner at
Tokyo Cafe
Wasabi Sushi
Smoke-a-holic’s
Magdalena’s Supper Club
La Onda
Malayai Kitchen
Grace
Piatello’s
Local Foods Kitchen
Madea’s Soul Food Kitchen

For Dessert
Melt Ice Cream
Elote Express for Carmel filled churros

Some of my guilty pleasures that I would have to take my out of town friend to are Taco Casa, everyone should experience a Taco Lite with picante sauce, a Chilada, and a Griff’s Burger at least once in their lifetime

Hang Out Spots
Wine Haus
Cru Wine Bar
Lost Oak Winery
Magnolia Wine Bar
Maggie’s R & R for live music on the patio
Grand Cru
Central Market (its my mall)
Dallas Farmers Market
Shops at Legacy West
Turner Falls

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to dedicate this to my family. They have all been instrumental in any success I have previously or will achieve in my lifetime. My grandmother would tell me things like, “If you are going to do it, you might as well do it good”. Now her reference was often to household chores but it stuck none the less. My grandpa Stu was one of my favorites. Every time I accomplished something, well into adulthood he would say, “Ahhlriiight, that’s my girl”. It was one of the best sounds to hear. Now that he has passed anytime I accomplish something I replay the sound in my brain because I know he would be cheering. My mom has always been my biggest fan. Sometimes I have to wait to tell her big new because I know the moment I tell her she is going to tell the world what “her oldest baby” has accomplished. Sometimes I have to tell her, “Mom, do not post this on social media until I do”. She loves seeing her children accomplish their goals on their own terms. My children, my legacies, Deyja and Jamie, they are my hype squad. Them being proud of me is the biggest success I can ever accomplish. My extended family, aunts, uncles, cousins, 2nd cousins, great aunts, They have always been cheerleaders for me. I would be remiss not to mention my partner. He has graciously held the home fort down while I move about DFW catering, working my food truck, taking second jobs just for experience, attending meetings/events for the multiple organizations I am apart of. Sometimes I have to go out of town for competitions and conferences and he ensures everything is taken care of. I would not be able to take advantage of the vast opportunities I have without his gracious contribution to the household.

I remember a time, when I had no friends or better yet I was learning the process of what it means to be a friend and cultivate relationships. I have truly been blessed with friends who see me as Zameika, not all of the stuff I am working to accomplish. They pour into me through prayer, quality time, affirmations, support, showing up as my food truck, sending me encouraging words through the mail when they love five minutes away. I cant count how many times I have gotten a cute little envelope in the mail with a short message and encouraging word on a random Tuesday. My friends celebrate me, my success, and they let me know Ok, Zameika, you are doing to much., even for you”.

Website: www.ilovechefz.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luckeygs_foodtruck/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilovechefz/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zameika.williams/

Image Credits
Roderick Conner – Chef pic in white jacket with long hair