Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Otis.
Hi Jennifer, 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 have always had a passion for cooking. I grew up watching and helping my mom in the kitchen for years and she always encouraged me to use the skill that she taught me and put my creativity with it. We would watch Food Network to watch the cooking shows and competitions and I would always dream of having my turn to be on one of those shows to compete. I used to love the way I would see guests at our home dinner parties, smile, and be filled with joy just with a bite of some of her food.
I knew I always wanted to have the same effect on people whenever they’ve eaten any dish I’ve made, so I’ve made it my mission to accomplish just that. Let’s just say I was not an instant success in the kitchen. lol, I have made many small fires and ruined quite a small fortune on groceries before finally finding my happy place. I learned that I finally inherited my mother’s gift and I could put my emotions into anything that I’m cooking.
Every single time I cook anything, I make sure that I am in a happy place. That includes playing the same playlist every day. That puts me back in a place from a lot of happiest moments. I’m literally in a zone once I get going. I like to try different spice blends and patterns to challenge the tastebuds to experience something different that they haven’t experienced before and that’s what leaves them addicted and wanting more.
I can give out recipes and tell you exactly how to make them and they may be good, but never as good as mine because the missing ingredient is my love. I know it may sound corny, but it’s true. It fulfills me because I may not have much to offer, but if I can make someone’s day just by eating something delicious to take their mind off of whatever life’s stress is getting them down at that moment, then I’m going to do just that.
I believe that God has given me such a wonderful gift and I just want to continue to spread love thru my food and have my story end once I’ve finally achieved my dream restaurant I never felt was possible. I can now finally say after 35 years, I believe in myself and I’m not looking back. If I can follow my dreams, why can’t you? I for one refuse to live with regret or never know what I can do!
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?
I can honestly say it is such a struggle every day financially, physically, mentally, and emotionally! My God, no one truly discusses how intense this is daily. Will you ever see me not confident in the face of the public? NEVER! I am a professional and I don’t want my emotions to take away the attention of my talent. It’s nerve-wracking for me because I am self-funded and it is very inconsistent every week right now because I never know if anyone will service my lunch options or if someone will book me for an event.
It’s frightening to not know where I will get the money to pay all my bills for the month and honestly, the biggest fear is failing. I suppose after thinking about it, I already put myself out there so that’s a start in the right direction. Because I’m not initially from Cincinnati, all of my customers are from social media and word of mouth. I’m going it business unannounced and introducing myself telling my story of who I am and how I could be of service to them.
Some people just stick with the larger chains because that’s what they’re used to and they’re missing out by not giving me a chance because I’m a small business at the moment. This is just another obstacle that I will find a way to overcome because I know in the end, it will all be worth it.
We’ve been impressed with I Got the Vittles, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I Got the Vittles LLC is a private chef and catering company located in Cincinnati, OH. I am a former educator of 8 years and I understand that the budget for an upscale dinner may not always be in the budget because most people have families and the cost of just everything is expensive. Our mission is to be able to provide an opportunity for someone to be able to indulge in a delicious meal without having to break the bank.
My mission is not to get rich quickly. While it would be nice to have the money, I just want the opportunity to spread love and positivity to others thru food. Service workers work long stressful hours daily with little to no appreciation or reciprocity a daily basis. At least for a few moments throughout the day, they will have something to look forward to and they’ll get to enjoy and make them happy. That’s what it’s all about.
I Got the Vittles offers a wide variety of services. I take pride in offering affordable prices using quality ingredients making mostly everything from scratch. I also am proud of the excellent customer service that I provide to any customer regardless if they’re booking me for a large party wedding or buying one of my $10 sandwiches for lunch. I am anything but ordinary so of course, the flavors have to match my personality.
I offer private chef services where I will come to your home and set up beautiful decor and cook a meal that was uniquely designed for your dietary and taste preferences. Each course is served to you beautifully plated fresh from your kitchen. At the end of each service, I clean the work area thoroughly. Because I am not a brick and mortar as of yet, I am a delivery service only. We are state-certified and ServSafe-qualified. I offer a lunch service that is open to the general public in Cincinnati and the menu changes every week.
I always post my weekly menus on my social media accounts (Tiktok: @Jennie.Vittles, Instagram: @igotthevittles, Facebook: @I Got the Vittles) or via email if you’ve signed up on my email list. We service any event size for weddings, baby showers, corporate work events, you name it! I also sell my delicious gourmet cooking online thru my Etsy store, JennioVittles, and ship nationwide. If you have a moment, you should take a look at some of the wonderful reviews I’ve received about my cookies.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
During covid is when people started to take an interest in small businesses. Fortunately for me, I was on the receiving end of a company that some people wanted to patronize. I was still teaching at the time so I was only offering Sunday dinners. I would make the meals and then go around town making deliveries by myself.
It was exhausting, but I wanted to share my cooking and could use the extra money. It would be about 4 or 5 people at first that would order from me because of something I may have shared from my lunch in the years prior. Without hesitation, they would order from me and that was so humbling.
Not only would they order from me, but they would also spread positive word of mouth to get my business name out there at any chance they got. I gained a strong support system and confidence to work towards my dreams during covid. It taught me that we only have this one life and I refuse to live with regret without even trying to see what I actually can do or where I will end up.
Pricing:
- Private Chef Services- Starting at $350
- Weekly Lunches $10-15
- Corporate Catering Boxed Lunches starting at $12/pp
- Event catering starting at $14/per person
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @igotthevittles
- Facebook: @I Got the Vittles
- Youtube: @Jennio.Vittles
- Tiktok: @Jennio.Vittles
- Etsy: @JennioVittles
