Exploring Life & Business with Raven Jackson of Raven’s Creations

Today we’d like to introduce you to Raven Jackson. 

Hi Raven, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I remember at a very young age my mom would prepare Sunday dinners. We used to have a big beige table that myself, four siblings and mom could all sit at. It was my favorite part of the week. As I got older those dinners disappeared and food became sparse. It seemed like the less food we had the more my mom had to find the creativity to cook us meals. Often times she wouldn’t eat so we would. It was then that I recognized her strength and creativity. 

One of the first things I can remember making was homemade cookies. Except all we had were flour and sugar lol. Needless to say, they were disgusting but I was SO proud and my mom and her friends still ate them. My siblings still won’t let me live that one down. 

Fast forward to my younger teenage years. Life took a toll on my mom and naturally as the oldest girl I had to step in and take her place. I was attending Walnut Hills High School while also trying to help provide for my family. With such a demanding school load plus the challenges at home, I would find comfort in the kitchen at the Boys and Girls Club. Serving was my favorite thing to do there because I could always take the leftovers to my siblings to make sure we had food for the day. So, I didn’t always have the best relationship with food but as I got older my passion for it grew. 

When I got my own apartment at 18, I wanted to bring back the tradition that I had growing up- Sunday dinners. I would invite my friends from college over to my apartment every Sunday and cook for them while we caught up on life. I eventually had to stop because I couldn’t afford it but they always would complement my food. 

In college, I was a part of the Lambda Society where we challenged our brothers, the men of Collegiate 100 to annual cook-offs. I would always make my green beans and people literally raved about them when they saw me on campus. I thought, damn Raven! You got people eating their veggies AND loving it. The seed was planted. 

I didn’t take cooking seriously until I graduated college and posted one of my vegetarian spreads. When people messaged me asking to buy plates, I was like wait what? OK! The first time I sold plates I sold out in 10 minutes. It was then I knew I could use my cooking money to save for law school and become the lawyer I always dreamed of. The seed took root. 

God directed me on a different path and instead of going to law school I finished my degree and launched Raven’s Creations. Today, Raven’s Creations is a boutique catering company that offers catering, private chef services, private dining, cooking classes, and plate pop-ups. It’s been extremely rewarding to witness different types of people from different walks of life come together and enjoy my food. Food is at the center of many important events and to have people entrust me with such a huge task is extremely fulfilling. The flower bloomed. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Challenges? Whew plenty! But what is success without challenge? Adversity was nothing new to me, but I thought it would end when I became an adult and moved out on my own. NOPE! It morphed its way into different shapes and situations. Some of the biggest challenges I’ve faced to date in this business are stereotypes, my age/ gender/ race, and my own diet. For some unfortunate reason, there’s an unsettling stereotype that Black businesses are unprofessional, untimely, and overall, not good businesses that deserve continuous support. I knew I had to fight that stigma. With eight years as a server/ food manager under my belt, I knew my customer service would be top tier but it’s sometimes a challenge getting people to support you when they have internalized stereotypes. But when they do give in to their good senses- they are never disappointed with Raven’s Creations! Side note- let’s dispel those stereotypes, please. 

Another challenge has been my age and gender. This is definitely a male-dominated field and trying to break through as a female chef- a young Black female chef at that- is a challenge in itself but I was born to defy the odds. I am also a vegetarian and have been since launching my business so sometimes it’s tough not eating my own food or leftovers, but it’s been something that I’ve been able to successfully navigate. COVID is of course another barrier that we have all had to fight. My most popular service pre- Covid was buffet catering, but it’s now become catering to go, and as an introvert, I don’t have any problems with that lol. The key is to remain a student and have continuous learning to perfect you craft. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Raven’s Creations is a boutique catering company that focuses on the more intimate of events. We put extra care into the taste and aesthetics of our food with an emphasis on quality service. Our motto is “Created to Engineer Upscale, Memorable Events” and we try our best to live up to that motto every single day. By supporting Raven’s Creations, you are also supporting the community as we do our best to support other local businesses, host a variety of giveaways, and partner annually with Changing the Cycle, Raven’s shared non-profit. 

We are most known for our Soul Food dishes however we cater to all types of palates and dietary needs. We have an extensive menu inclusive of vegan and vegetarian options as well. 

What sets Raven’s Creations apart from other businesses is the quality. We don’t skimp when it comes to quality and you definitely get your money’s worth with the food. 

Raven combines her love of traveling with cooking and many of her dishes are influenced by cultures she experienced abroad in places like Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Mexico, Africa, and more. Raven is a self-taught culinary creative. Today Raven’s Creations hosts a variety of events from birthday celebrations and luncheons, to networking and event socials. 

Website- https://www.ravenscreations.org 

Services-catering, private chef, private dining, delivery/ pickup, virtual cooking classes, traveling chef 

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
As a child, I was shy and introverted and preferred to be alone for the most part. The term ‘popular loner’ described me well. My mom couldn’t afford to put me into sports, so I found hobbies in other things like watching cooking shows, doing hair, reading, and writing. I played volleyball once and did African dance but that’s it. Today, I find myself doing things that I wish I had access to as a child. I travel a lot which is neat because I get to try different types of cuisines and then create my own version back home. I’m adventurous today and enjoy doing off-the-wall things like zip-lining, sky diving, horse riding, snorkeling (knowing I can’t swim), and a load of other things. I wouldn’t change any part of my journey because I love the woman I’ve grown into. 

Contact Info:

• Email: info.ravenscreations@gmail.com
• Website: https://www.ravenscreations.org
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/ravens__creations
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RavensCreationsLLC/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/chefraven1
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/ravens-creations-cincinnati

Image Credits
Raven Jackson
Jada Faison