Today we’d like to introduce you to Gina Willis.
Hi Gina, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m excited to share my story!
As far back as I can remember, I have always been around family members in the kitchen, especially my mom. She is a retired Home Economics and Culinary Arts teacher. My daddy worked in food service and my maternal grandparents owned a club/restaurant on Wilmington Island for over 40 years. So, I guess that you can say that the love of food has always surrounded me, but I never thought that I would make it into a career.
I’ve always loved trying different techniques in the kitchen, and around seven years ago, I started a baking business but my passion is in creating my own cooking recipes. I would prepare different dishes and share pictures on social media of EVERYTHING I made, even if it was bacon and eggs. I realized it was my presentation, and my down home personality that caught people’s attention. If I posted a cup of coffee or a plant, everyone would still ask “What’s Gina Cooking?” I knew then that I was on to something, and I started doing lunch service, catering and I became a self taught private chef.
Today, I still provide occasional private chef services, but I do more content creating and development for brands. As a social media influencer/content creator, I get to try a lot of new and diverse products and share my findings with my followers.
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?
When I knew in my heart that I had found my niche, I wanted to open a small restaurant, but I could never find a location that had the right fit or feel. Then Covid 19 came in like a whirlwind and I was forced like so many other entrepreneurs to pivot and that gave me time to figure out another game plan. Now I realize that it was a blessing in disguise, that I did not have the responsibility of a brick and mortar operation.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I love to share my culture through food, and I have developed an artisanal line of spices, grits and other lifestyle items that will be launching right before Thanksgiving.
The name of my new brand is The Low Country Bohemian, and because I am of Gullah Geechee heritage it is important to me to have authentic curated items.
What sets me apart from other culinarians is that I like to take a traditional dish and put my own spin on it. I am”The New Low Country” so to speak, and I like to shake it up a bit.
I have 2 e-cookbooks (available on my site) that I put out last year “From Grits to Gumbo” and “Let’s Have Brunch at Home”, and the response was overwhelming. People are still emailing me pictures of their food that they make!
This has afforded me the opportunity to do many different features in magazines and television. Such an IG Series on Food Network for Juneteenth, and I just filmed an episode for a show that will be coming out in January of 2022.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
My advice is to remain authentic and self assured. People can normally tell when you aren’t and you do a disservice to yourself.
Do your legwork. This field is not easy and the work is tough, but you will be respected if you don’t try and emulate or imitate someone else’s brand. Just like the old saying goes “If you cook with love, the food taste better”, the same goes into creating your OWN style and brand.
I wish I would have known about the different career paths that are available within the culinary field. If there isn’t one that you like, go out and create one.
I did!
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.whatsginacooking.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/whatsginacooking?utm_medium=copy_link
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Whatsginacooking/
Image Credits
Gina Capers-Willis
