Meet Stephanie Maston | Inevitable Cook & Food Blogger

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

Hi Stephanie, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
Hi there! I’m Steph, the hands behind “Steph & Spice”, where I share easy & fast family-friendly meals, tips & recipes.

I’m the mother of one amazing daughter who, despite all life has thrown at her, has such a bright future ahead. Plus, she loves to dictate meals I make (super busy momma!)

Too be honest, food has always been a huge part of my life. The ability to serve and host large gatherings of people has been an essential skill in my household. Growing up on the MS Gulf Coast, I watched my mother in the kitchen. This greatly influenced what & how I cook. She always had this ability to “whip up” a quick meal from scratch using fresh produce & cost-effective everyday ingredients. It seemed they were readily available in our pantry. She’d not only cook for my siblings & I; however, neighbors & friends as well. To be quite frank, the one job I can recall my mother doing all of my life was being a cook. I guess you could say it runs in the blood. I love her cooking and to this day, I still call her up and inquire how to cook certain foods.

In 2020, life for me took a spiral out of control. It seemed to be so unfamiliar…(COVID, work, family, & health). The one thing that never changed was the desire to cook. The passion & love I had for food in my childhood days had not yet changed; in fact it continued to grow. It inevitably helped me through some of the toughest times ever. I would cook and post pictures of my food on social media. My initial intentions were to just share, nothing more.

I would receive messages & comments telling me I should start a food blog, create a recipe book, etc. Not really thinking about it, I continued to share photos of my food, actually taking it more seriously. Making sure I captured the right lighting, ensuring the plating was on point, sure to please the eye became a big factor when posting to social media. After so much feedback, I decided it was time…..but I didn’t have a name.

My business name was inspired by my mom. Naturally, I’m Steph. She gave me that name at birth. But she’s the “Spice”. Mostly everything I know about cooking comes from her. Much like spice, she’s had a combination of life events that make her who she is….better yet, who I am. Plus she rocks a mean short blonde hair cut. Wouldn’t you say that’s “Spice”? Me too.

Ultimately, I chose “Steph & Spice” to celebrate all life has thrown at me, be it good, bad or ugly.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My professional life/career has definitely been full of “Spice”!!! Although “Steph & Spice” is my business, I also work a full-time job as a Supply Chain Coordinator for Pepsico.

Many always ask what does that entail….but I’m basically responsible for all details around raw materials. This ensures you’re able to purchase cases of soda at your local grocery store. While sometimes working 50 hours a week, my passion for Steph & Spice pushes me to work even more.

It is not always easy….juggling the balance of working full-time & being an entrepreneur, as it has its challenges. I have found it easier when I plan out my day for both. It helps to prioritize my work in a way that ensures that important jobs are fulfilled.

One lesson I’ve learned along the way is to make every moment count. Life can be a speeding bullet. The older I get it seems like years have gone by literally in the blink of an eye. Yet I remember childhood. Where summer seemed to last forever. When I’m constantly working, raising my daughter and dealing with responsibilities, it is so easy for the days to seem short and lifeless. It’s so important to make every moment count. Live life to the fullest, because time is short and you never know what the next day brings.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This is an easy one. Now for starters, “Steph & Spice” would definitely be on the itinerary, so here we go!

We first would have to enjoy a nice brunch at my home….this too include my family’s fav of Shrimp & Grits and of course my rendition of Peach Cobbler French Toast.

We would visit Hippin Hops Brewery. It’s the first black brewery in East Atlanta. The “Coco Crazy” (Frozen Brew) served in a pineapple. So delicious!!! I hear the food is yummy too.

Ponce City Market…..I’m pretty sure at this point this is a requirement. There are so many different restaurants & shops here.

Another new fav would be Zaddy’s ATL located at Politan Row. The Lemon Pepper Tuna Zaddy is amazing. I became good friends with the owner Aliah. The lady has scrumptious “sammiches” and lets not forget her Carrot Cake Bread Pudding with a Brown Sugar Caramel Sauce. Politan Row also has a nice bar as well as other restaurants to check out. It’s a MUST one stop shop.

I’d also have to take them to The Rooftop at Hotel Clermont. The roof is nothing like the base part…its classy & has great cocktails. It’s definitely a “girls weekend” type of place. Oh and the view of Ponce at sunset is beautiful.

We have to catch brunch one day at the Flying Biscuit Café in Midtown. (where the famous rainbow crosswalk is). I would suggest the Southern Scramble. It’s literally scrambled eggs with bacon, collard greens, onions & cheese. It’s soooo good! The wait time is upsetting, but it’s still worth it.

The Battery – one of my friends played softball growing up; so I know she’d appreciate all the feels the Battery has to offer….several bars, shops and so much more.

The Trap Museum….pretty girls love trap music!!! From MLK to UGK….it’s full of art that highlights the music & culture of hip-hop in the South.

And before leaving we’d definitely have to visit the historical district. We’d stroll through the Civil Rights Walk of Fame and the World Peach Rose Garden, & the MLK Center.
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?
There are actually two persons in which I’d like to dedicate this shoutout to.

1. My Mother – (Pam)…..when I think of her, I think of GUMBO! It’s a metaphor for her life.

In the gumbo, everything’s a liquid stew in one pot. The ingredients…..meat, vegetable, and spices….all blend together with roux. The roux is a thickening soup base made of flour & oil. It takes a skill and talent to make a roux just right without burning. My family & I have all witnessed or been asked to stir her roux…..so it wouldn’t burn….lol.

The final gumbo broth is a mixture of all the ingredients….and each spoonful has a unique taste. The meat itself, but also the after bite from the way the spices mix in that spoonful.

Much like my mom’s delicious gumbo…..her life itself has been a gumbo. I mean every good & bad decision/experience stands out even though blended together; however each decision/experience had its own flavor/after bite. And of course you can’t help but to remember and savor them forever. I Love You Mom!!!

2. My “Bougie Bae” – (Nicholas)…..he’s the behind the scenes guy. He’s such a BIG encouragement!!! Pursuing something you’ve never done before is hard. He’s been my BIGGEST cheerleader in this cooking part of life. From tasting, to making sure I have the right shots, to so many other things…..He’s always there! I call him “Bougie-Bae” because over the time of us dating, he’s taken on some pretty nice taste buds. Lol!!!

Website: www.stephandspice.com

Instagram: @stephandspice

Image Credits
Images Captured by: Reed Behind the Lens