Meet Kenneth Everett: Chef

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

Hi Kenneth, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I was born and raised in St Louis, MO. I grew up in North city before moving to North County. Coming up in the city brought about experiences that could have been detrimental to people of the same age of myself at that time. But I have a mother that to this day will go above and beyond to make sure her children are well and handling their business the right way. Being surrounded by drugs, gangs and the “street” environment as a young boy had an affect on my attitude for sure, but again I was in a home that had strong beliefs so I didn’t get sucked in by my environment. My family moved a lot so I wasn’t really able to make real friends because we moved that much. My teenage and high school years were spent in North County which was a safer environment at that time. I was able to make friends who I am still friends with to this day. Being able to see both sides of the spectrum as far as environments helped me be able to adapt no matter the environment I find myself in. Even from a business and professional standpoint I can adjust to situations rather quickly and become comfortable. Watching my mother make the sacrifices that she did for her kids taught me strength.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The one thing I think that sets me apart from others and has contributed to my success I would say is my work ethic. I strongly believe my work ethic is unmatched. I’m extremely passionate about my craft and I aim to provide an experience that will be remembered every time I step in the kitchen. I’m most proud of the fact that I believed in myself and the gift I was blessed with and I was able to work for myself. I got to this point by believing in myself and investing in myself. In order to get myself out there I had to give the people a product and I did that by offering my services at a discounted rate or free of charge as a way to network. I try to surround myself with people of influence that can help me and my brand grow. It was definitely not an easy road but I would travel that road again if I had to. Had it been easy I don’t think I would be in the position I’m in now. I learned perseverance and how to deal with the difficulties of the industry by going through the challenges first hand.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m fairly new to the area so there are several places I have to discover, but I have a few go to places where I can eat, drink and relax. In no particular order these are the places I would bring someone too….Fin & Feathers, Zari, Atlantis, Lily’s, Breakfast at Barney’s are my favorites so far..

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 children Kenneth, Khristian, Kennady and Karishma. It’s for them I will not settle for anything less than excellence. My mother Linda, I can put into words what she means to me. My nephew Karson who gained his wings a week before his first birthday after battling cancer since he was 4 months. Watching him display strength and how he fought with everything he had to live his best life despite his situation, helped me better understand and practice staying in a constant state of gratitude. Can’t forget my grandma Dora, she is the reason there is a Chef K. Ray, seeing her pour her love into whatever it is she was making to satisfy someone else is why I don’t cook to get paid I do it because I love it.

Website: Chefkray.com

Instagram: Chef_k.ray

Facebook: Kenny Ray