Meet Tristin Middleton | Chef and CNC Programmer

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

Hi Tristin, what makes you happy? Why?
Being in the kitchen, allowing myself to be creative makes me happy. The most important reason why being in the kitchen makes me happy, has everything to do with my grandmother and my family. My grandmother taught me how to be creative and cook. Being in the kitchen is extra special to me, it allows me to connect with my grandmother in a different way. When I’m missing my family, I cook huge meals and invite my friends who have become family over. Watching people I love and care about, eat my creations, and enjoy it, puts a smile on my face and excites my heart.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I started out going to Claflin College majoring in Computer Science with a minor in Mathematics! Just picking going to college for something, just wanted to make my grandparents proud however it wasn’t for me. Not realizing that cooking my was passion then, when I did recognize it, I enrolled in Le Cordon Bleu and graduated with honors in 2016. From there it felt like the sky was the limit, I was pursuing my passion, my dreams, and then I got sick, most restaurants don’t offer health insurance, so I had to go back into the manufacturing line of work which lead to me gaining the knowledge I have of programming CNC machines. Becoming content with this line of work made me feel like I had forgotten about my passion. I started reading books on holistic healing, herbalism, alkaline foods/diets, Chinese medicine and the body healing itself. The fire was light under my butt now!!!! I wanted to come back to the Culinary field in a different way, in a educated, healing type of way. Culinary-JCGWay has been created to give back to the community the knowledge and power of knowing what you’re putting into your body, to provide healing herbs, spices and blends that will promote good health and nourishment to the body, organs and soul. We’re here to shake the Culinary world up and give it to each of you the JCGWay. The most difficult part of this was just having faith and believing in myself. Knowing that I can and I will.

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 a sucker for The Atlanta Beltline, PopUp Dinner Parties Ponce City Market, Krog Street Tunnel, Martin Luther King Museum, The West End, Little 5 points, Nouveax, 5Church, Poor Calvin’s, City Winery, Apex Museum, Cabbage town. I enjoy doing new things, exploring and finding new places, sights and scenes. This is a very limited list, there’s so much to do and see here in Atlanta. Anything from hiking to exploring spiritual and holistic activities/education, I’m here for it.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Culinary-JCGWay would like to shoutout to all of our supporters!! Without a strong support system, there is no Culinary-JCGWay, we thank each and everyone who has liked our page, bought the product, shared a post, whatever you have done to support Culinary-JCGWay, Thank you!!!! Also a huge shoutout to, The Alchemist Den, owners Marquita, and Chasity Millen, for connecting Culinary-JCGWay with ShoutOut Atlanta!! Please stop by The Alchemist Den and support Black-Owned Businesses not only here in Atlanta but across the globe!!!

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