Meet Natalie Adderley | Personal Chef

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

Hi Natalie, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
After my son went off to preschool, I graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance Management. Then, with our second child off to kindergarten I began to get the wheels turning as to what my future career would be. The goal was to continue staying home but have my own career.

My love for cooking grew throughout the years of being home with my children. I remember my infant son always wanted banana bread from Starbucks. As a first time mom I questioned the ingredients then figured it would be best if I learned how to make it for him. From then on my love of cooking healthy for my family grew.

Our family was always happiest gathering in the kitchen cooking meals together. Sharing childhood stories, bad jokes and family recipes. Those moments sparked the idea that grew into, Cook With Me.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Cook With Me is a cooking experience not just a class. It’s an interactive activity with friends or family. You don’t have to leave the comfort of home. I bring all the ingredients and equipment needed, all the leftover food and ingredients are yours to keep. I also make sure the kitchen is cleaned up while you feast of the food you’ve prepared. Company motto is: We Cook, You Eat & I Clean.

I am most excited about cooking with the people of Colorado. It’s exciting meeting new people and learning from them as well. Cooking together brings out great stories and family recipes we all share as we cook together.

I got to where I am today because I strongly believe in my business. I know Cooking brings joy, laughter and most importantly connection. We seemed to have lost that one on one connection with people increasingly as technology improves. That one on one connection is a need that Cook With Me brings back through cooking together.

It was not easy building my business with just and idea and love of cooking. I had to take several classes online on how to build my website, take pictures, social media marketing. At least I had my bachelors in Finance Management and experience running a kitchen from my military days. But starting a business on your own with no one to ask on how to do this, was a Mount Everest to overcome. I also watched tons of YouTube videos on how to’s, any topic I would just google it. If I needed to know something I would just seek out the answer and educate myself on the topic.

I would like the world to know that cooking like life is not a rigid step by step recipe, it is only a guideline. For the cooking sessions I make the menu based on your nutritional preferences. As we are cooking, we go with what you feel and what you want it to taste like. When you are Cooking With Me everyone is sharing stories, horrible jokes and just having an easy going time as I guide you and your guest through the recipe. At the end you get to eat what you all love and get to enjoy what you’ve prepared together with your friends or family.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My hot spot for food is definately Pig Latin Cocina. I have not eaten anything that I don’t need to order again.

Home

My burger spot is Skirted Heifer. I have almost tried every burger. The leftover sweet potato fries are a midnight snack

Main Home

Menchies at the Dublin Commons have the DOLE Pineapple flavor as I remember having in Hawaii. It’s absolutely refreshing.

The next spot I would like to try is the desserts from Marigold Bakery. Looking forward to licking that spoon.

Bakery

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My husband deserves the credit for my continued success. He was the one that got me thinking of owning my own business instead of going back into the workforce. I remember expressing to him my hesitation of leaving our children after 8 years of being home, his first remark was…”Well, start your own business”. I was taken aback and said “What would I do?” I wasn’t sure what I would do but I knew it had to be something I had a passion for and that I could do as a career. We had no idea what the business would be, he just knew that whatever it was he will support it because he always said that whatever I set my mind to I would figure it out.

I can hear him say:
*It’s not about money, we don’t need it, it’s about you fulfilling your passion
*Your continued dedication is what will guarantee your success
*Everyday, day in day out, that’s what it will take
*Don’t chase money, chase your passion and they money will come
*I know you will succeed because once you set your mind on something, there is not stopping you

His assurance every step of the way kept me pushing. His words of encouragement when I wanted to give up. He is my continued support in all my decisions.

Website: https://cookwithmenatalie.com/

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CookWithMeNatalie/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn2Mkel6Anve-YgeVuAaRzw/featured