Meet Vernice Gaston | Chef & Food Service Professional

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

Hi Vernice, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
The thought process behind starting our own business was that we didn’t want to work for someone any more. My husband was recently retired and neither one of us wanted to adhere to a strict schedule or answer to anyone anymore. The idea of a food truck came when we decided that we wanted to share with the local area the various cuisines that we were fortunate enough to experience during our travels while he was in the military. First, we wanted a brick and mortar but we felt that was such a permanent position, and how could we reach more people with our products. What better way to offer those items, than from a food truck? This way we are bringing Globally Inspired Street Food to the consumer wherever they may be located. Affordable Gourmet is the first step in the process to building global brands of various food related entities.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
If you had to label my career, you could call me a Food Service Professional. Honestly, the levels to my career are so vast. I am a food truck owner (Affordable Gourmet), a chef, author (Shut Up and Cook), spice curator (KBJ Spices), caterer, and food consultant. I am very passionate about food and developing levels of flavor in my dishes and spices. My goal in this industry has always been to stand apart from the norm. I want to offer people something so different that they are thinking about what they ate days later. I think what sets me apart from others is that I offer items that differ from your typical food truck, I try to think outside of the box and give people something that they can’t find south of Atlanta. I am very excited and encouraged to be able to create a business from scratch and see it growing and thriving.

I got where I am today through HARD work and being reliable. I think why a lot of small businesses come up short, is their lack of reliability and consistency. Of course, people want a high-quality product, but when a customer or other businesses know that they can rely on you and your performance is consistent, you will come out on top every time. My journey to get here was not easy, there were times when I felt like giving up and finding a new career path. At one point I was going to be a car sales person (nothing is wrong with car sales) but it clearly was not my path. There were points with starting the food truck where I just didn’t see how it was going to work. While writing myself published book “Shut Up and Cook: A Culinary Autobiography, I would become discouraged and overwhelmed. Luckily, I had/have a great support team. My mentor (my god mother) was very encouraging and a guiding force in elevating my food service career. My husband and mom have been in my corner pushing me and motivating me to go further. My god sisters and close friends have been my counselors and shoulders, when I just felt like giving up. So, for me the way I overcame those challenges, was with the help of my supporting “cast”.
I have learned so many lessons along the way, but my top 3 are:

1. Don’t give up! 2. You can’t please everyone. 3. You can say NO, and that’s okay!
The last lesson really speaks to me, I learned that I would tend to say NO and then immediately feel guilty, but we have no control over other people’s feeling and I don’t have to explain my NO! A famous person once said, “People don’t ask you to justify your YES, why do you feel the need to justify your NO.

I want the world to know that I am a small business owner/entrepreneur, a mother of three beautiful girls, a wife/partner to an amazing husband and a sister to so many amazing women and one little brother. My end goal is to create generational wealth and knowledge for our girls. I want to show them that there is nothing that that you can’t accomplish without hard work, faith, and integrity. If you are ever south of Atlanta and want to experience some great food and meet some awesome people, stop by our truck Affordable Gourmet. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for location and dates. Also, if you are looking for some great recipes and want to read a good story, get my book “Shut Up and Cook: A Culinary Autobiography”, which can be purchased through our Facebook page.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Food trucks south of Atlanta top 3 Affordable Gourmet, Patunias, Top It Off Funnel Cakes Shop at Broad Street Mill Griffin, Ga
Stockbridge Ampitheater in Stockbridge GA
Chicken House – Griffin GA
3 Peas in a pod Luxury Consignment Shop – Griffin GA

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First, I would like to shoutout my husband Kendall. Thank you for your continuous support, love, guidance, and help through this entire process. Thank you for being you (my balance and my calm), I love you so much. Next, I would like to shoutout my girls Kira, Briana, and Jalyn, you three keep me going and growing every day; Love you to the moon and back. I would like to give a huge shoutout to my god sisters (Kerrie and Marshae), I love you two so much! I would also like to recognize my girls Ristina, Destiney, and The Platinum Sistas (Aisha, Mahogany, Mashoma, Laesha, and Raushanah), thank you ladies for always being there when I need you. I lost two very special people to me and I want to give them enormous shoutout my grandmother Earline (G-Ma) and my godmother Bettie (Old Lady), I miss you two so much and I just want to thank you both for all the love and support you gave me! Another shoutout to all my friends and family! Lastly, but certainly not least I would like to thank my mother Tanice, thank you Ma for EVERYTHING, words cannot express how much you mean to me; I Love ya!

Website: 1affordablegourmet.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1affordablegourmet

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1affordablegourmet

Youtube: affordable gourmet

Other: Tiktok: @neecy_g