Meet Maurice Robinson | Owner of I got the Smoke Catering

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

Hi Maurice, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I always had a passion for cooking. I was the go to person for family dinners, cookouts, and events. My wife urged me to seriously look at making a business out of it. And that’s exactly what I did. I turned a passion to a business and I have enjoyed every minute.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve always had a passion for cooking since I was young. Unlike most kids that would watch cartoons on Saturday morning, I would watch the food network and beg my mom to help me cook what I saw on TV. That fascination turned into sitting in the kitchen with my mom while she cooked to taking over the family meal once a week as a child. As I got older, the responsibility of the “Man on the grill” for every and all family cookouts fell on my shoulders. There I really found the love of BBQ and Grilling and began to study the art of Smoking. That led to me buy the first of many smokers and began smoking for friends and family. Everyone loved it and I was told countless times that this the best BBQ they’ve ever had. That boosted my confidence so much that I wanted to turn my passion into a profession. So here I am four more smokers and two years later cooking the food, I love to put smiles on people faces.

Growing the customer base has been challenging. In the food industry, you have your loyal customers but you’re always trying to reach new people and getting more customers. So word of mouth promoting, creating a larger social media presence and following, and exposure is key. Hopefully the VoyageATL readers enjoy BBQ!!

I am Maurice Robinson, owner of I Got the Smoke Catering, An Atlanta based small event caterer where I specialize in BBQ and southern cuisine, where my signature sweet potato cheesecake is a must try. I love to cook, but more than that, I love to see the smiles and reaction on the faces of the people who eat my food. I believe what sets my food apart from everybody else is that I cook and prepare my food with love and I prepare it as if I was serving my family. Family is extremely important to the I Got The Smoke brand because it’s a family affair.

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?
LOA Rooftop Putt Shack
Trap Museum
Old Fourth Distillery
Slutty Vegan
Ponce City Market
The Beltline

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I definitely want to shoutout my wife, She is my biggest fan, cheerleader and supporter. She is the one that is behind the scene making sure everything is order. When the days get long and tough she there to pick me up and give me that word of encouragement.

Instagram: @igotthesmoke_catering

Facebook: www.facebook.com/igotthesmokecatering

Other: igotthesmoke_catering@yahoo.com

Image Credits
Sequoya Robinson: Photography by SLR