Meet Kely De Jesus | Chef/ owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kely De Jesus and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kely, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I learned some of the harshest lessons of the industry early on. My first job ever after culinary school was at a catering company where I quickly rose to Sous chef. During my first summer I learned what the “off season” meant. Two months of drought. No income and no job without notice. From there I moved on to another catering company where I became the executive chef. I helped that small business increase revenue and revived its image. Only to be met with another summer of disappointment. That summer I decided to open up my own catering company. I told myself if I can do it for others, I can for sure do it for myself. I invested everything I had into myself. Almost a decade later, my peers respect me and the industry acknowledges my presence. Best bet I ever made.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Nothing But Love is a name I came up with while I was trying to start a business without having knowledge of how. No one in my family or that I knew had done this before. So as I sat in the balcony frustrated, I look up and see my family smiling and being happy. At that moment I understood what I was doing and why. See my passion comes from a place of love. My food, my recipes, my creations all come from a place of love. I was a latchkey kid that loved watching the food network. I wrote down recipes and learned from these tv chefs what I could. I would open up the pantry and just try not to burn down the house while my mother worked her 12/hr shift 7 days a week. That’s where it all started. Now as an adult, I decided I wasn’t happy in the career I was in. I quit everything and enrolled into culinary school. Having no real idea of what the food industry entailed. Chefs there were very honest and knowledgeable but never really showed us the dark side of the industry. The long hours, the working holidays, the off seasons, substance abuse and lifestyle. I’m grateful I never fell victim to any of it, but it created many hurdles. Yet and still, I overcame the employees with no work ethic, the owners/clients who don’t pay and just overall bumps and burns that come with the gig. That’s why today not only do I run my own culinary business, but I also hold the Executive Sous Chef position at the prestigious Potions In Motion Catering out of Boca Raton.

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?
For sure we would dude it out in Las Olas. The restaurants and the vibes are the best. You have the beach, you have the yachts and the weather. We would probably have the best burgers ever at Gilbert’s 17th Street Grill then drive down to Wynwood to make a night of it. Of course we would have to visit bayside and cruise on a yacht in the miami harbors. The weekend we have to hit up Carbone’s, Papi Steak and Gisselle’s. Wrap it all up with outdoor shooting in homestead and hopefully a Dolphins game.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The biggest shoutout has to go to my mother. As only child raised by a single mom, all my glory goes to her. She not only taught me all the values that I carry as a parent, but my work ethic and dedication to be better all came from her example. She is the most hard working and caring person I know. My mother had many concerns when I chose to charge careers and pursue my culinary journey. One thing she never did was show me any doubt or lack of support. She’s forever my biggest cheerleader and fir that I will never stop winning.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefkely/profilecard/?igsh=MXZobDF5OG9jMDJ6aQ==

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NothingButLoveCatering?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Image Credits
@panthera_media on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/panthera__media?igsh=Z3RqZ2c5NDVxNjN5