Today we’d like to introduce you to Dannika Stevenson.
Dannika, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
First and foremost, I would like to say that cooking is in my DNA. Cooking started at my ancestor’s table and when I was old enough, I had a seat at their table.
I remember cooking and baking alongside my Great-Grandmother, Pearl at the tender age of four. My great-grandmother was a bi-lateral (legs) amputee who was the cook in the family. I was so proud to be her little chef assistant. I used to sit on her lap cooking greens on the stovetop or stand on top of the counter to grab flour, sugar, and cocoa powder for her decadent chocolate cake. Whatever we made, we were a great team, and our food always came out to be a winner. The kitchen was my happy place. It was the place where I was the most creative and proactive. The love and passion that came through cooking and baking were the things that I wanted to share with everyone whom I met. I was quite shy and was picked on for being the fat kid, but I had realized that if I could create really good food, then I could eventually create really good friendships!
For the past 20 years, I have created good food and great friendships. In 2014, SipSavorSoul was launched for catering and private chef services. By 2016, I added culinary instructor and nutrition education specialist to my list of talents. I have worked in various culinary roles such as prep cook, beverage and banquet server, chef assistant, and now culinary instructor. I am an outstanding culinary professional with extensive experience in the fields of cooking & nutrition education and public health. I am also a certified wine educator with the American Wine School.
So far, I have conducted over 350 cooking classes and demonstrations and have worked with organizations such as SouthStreet Ministries, Let’s Grow Akron, Akron Public Schools, Portage Path Behavioral Health, Akron Public Library, WIC/Summit County Health Dept, Summa Health, Lebron James Family Foundation and many more. I have appeared on New Day Fox 8 Cleveland, Taste of Home Magazine, Cleveland Plain Dealer, and many more.
I truly believe that “Food Matters” in our city. It’s not only important to be committed to our communities but be committed to nutrition as well.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There have been some personal and professional struggles along the way. Personally, I had some doubts about being the face of my business. In the food business, I had personal struggles with food. I was teaching “healthy cooking classes” but after teaching, I would head over to Handel’s Ice Cream for an ice cream sundae. (lol). I would crave unhealthy foods all the time and it became a battle between a need and want. (lol). At one point I had associated chefs with looking a “healthy” way and all I wanted to do was showcase my food and hide behind the curtain. One day someone told me to stop worrying about the way I look. These cooking classes are not about SELF but SERVICE. I am providing a service that is changing my life and the life of others.
Professionally, we had to shut down in-person classes during COVID. We had a difficult time hosting class virtually. There were technical issues, transportation issues, participants with short attention spans, participants couldn’t afford to purchase ingredients, and much more. I remember a few times during our kids’ virtual classes that we had kids doing their food activity outside in the rain or in an apartment hallway. It was quite troubling to see but the kids still smiled at the opportunity to attend class.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
SipSavorSoul, LLC is a for-profit, one-operational enterprise. SipSavorSoul provides in-person and virtual classes and demonstrations to kids and adults in communities on how to prepare healthy and delicious recipes with food from local markets. We also provide nutritional education and common cooking practices in each class. At each class, participants are given a recipe card, ingredients, and supplies, and a little extra to take home. We have a diverse group of participants and have fun cooking and sharing stories with others. Our goal for each participant is to be CURIOUS to try a new recipe, be CREATIVE with the recipe, and grow CONFIDENCE to repeat the recipe again!
Although SipSavorSoul, LLC is a for-profit business, I operate very close to a nonprofit organization because many of my cooking programs are mostly for public good and in partnership with other nonprofits. Many of my for-profit clients allow me to continue doing other programming for minimal cost. My mission is to fight food insecurity and hunger and increase health and well-being for children and families throughout all communities. My mission has allowed me to receive many community grants to continue to do amazing work with area families and kids around healthy eating and cooking.
On September 30, 2022, SIPSAVORSOUL KITCHEN was established! This is Akron’s first Community Cooking School and it’s located in the historical Goodyear Heights at the lower level of Wingfoot Church/Heights Center at 1690 Hillside Terrace, Akron 44305.
The need for this place is essential to the overall health and wellness of the community. Akron has come a long way and has made its mark as an agricultural phenomenon. SipSavorSoul aims towards changing the way Akron cooks and eats for the better and I truly believe that SIPSAVORSOUL KITCHEN will bring cooking and communities together.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memory was cooking alongside my great-grandmother’s kitchen. Her kitchen was quite small but together we had made some amazing savory and sweet recipes. My mother grew concern when I cried when she had me go outside. I rather be in the kitchen cooking than outside running (lol).
Contact Info:
- Email: info@sipsavorsoul.com
- Phone: 330-524-2796
- Website: https://link.edgepilot.com/s/902b1d34/KMcX4fQao0_W9XyEfbpDzw?u=http://www.sipsavorsoul.com/
- Instagram: https://link.edgepilot.com/s/80526b40/V1WzV9nMvEuMyPHL1YkAiQ?u=https://www.instagram.com/sipsavorsoul/
- Facebook: https://link.edgepilot.com/s/9970d3f1/zxX1sNy6hESi9IqlAaTEyA?u=https://www.facebook.com/SIPSAVORSOUL/
Image Credits
Dannika Stevenson
