In this episode of 'I Did It for the Story', Amy introduces Kwame Onwuachi, acclaimed chef and author. Kwame shares his astounding journey from selling candy on the subways in New York City to becoming an award-winning chef. Along the way, he encounters influential figures, disappointments, and an invaluable lesson.
In this episode of 'I Did It for the Story', Amy introduces Kwame Onwuachi, acclaimed chef and author. Kwame shares his astounding journey from selling candy on the subways in New York City to becoming an award-winning chef. Along the way, he encounters influential figures, disappointments, and an invaluable lesson.
Story District's podcast brings you hilarious, heartfelt, and thought-provoking true stories told live on the Story District stage. Host Amy Saidman goes behind the scenes with the storytellers to hear more about what it takes to tell a great story.
In our third season, we bring you I Did It for the Story. All new episodes will feature true stories told live on the Story District stage and insights about storytelling from Host and Story District founding director, Amy Saidman.
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Fake It Till You Make It with Kwame Onwuachi
Amy Saidman: What's up everyone. I'm Amy Saidman, and this is I did it for the story, the podcast for people who love storytelling. I'm the director of story district. At Story District, we help people like you become great storytellers on stage, at work, and in life. And in this podcast, you'll hear some of our very favorites.
True stories told live on the Story District stage.
Listeners, today's featured storyteller is spectacular. Now, I first met this guy when he was named Rising Star Chef of the Year by the James Beard Foundation, which is a big deal. And at the time, he was also getting lots of love and attention for his memoir, Notes from a Young Black Chef. Since then, his Lincoln Center spot, Tatiana, was named the number one restaurant in New York City by the New York Times.
And now, the biggest and best news is that he's coming back to D. C. And he's opening a new restaurant at the Salamander Hotel. So I'm excited to introduce our storyteller, Kwame Onwuachi.
Kwame Onwuachi: So, I sold candy on the subways in New York City in order to start a catering company. Anyone here from New York?
Alright, there we go. I like that. Um, and I was a 20 year old candy seller, which is fine. That's okay. We figure out everything on our own time. Um, but I started this catering company. And I still was living in the Bronx, so I would go to Manhattan to kind of get out of that bubble and kind of like explore my horizon.
So, I would go to different Starbucks as my offices. And they were mine, you know, I had the code to the bathroom so I could go anytime I wanted. And, um, I remember I was on 42nd Street and I was sitting there and I was in the McDonald's. And, I was doing emails and this guy walked in in sweatpants and slippers.
And I looked at him, I was like, That looks like Puff Daddy, or whatever. So I'm still like working, and I was like, Holy shit, that's Diddy. Alright, cool. So, I walk up to him, and I'm like, Hey, Mr. Daddy. Um, I have a catering company. Um, I grew up to the same middle school and high school, actually, if you knew that.
Um, but uh, I know you probably do a lot of parties and everything, and I have a catering company. If you need my services, let me know. And he was like, oh shit, how old are you? I was like, that's irrelevant, sir. He's like, yeah, uh, I do, I actually do a lot of parties. Um, Bad Boy is right down the street. Um, Broadway.
Just go there, ask for me, and um, come upstairs, and we'll have a meeting. I'm like, I made it. This is it. This is my chance.
So, The next day, you know, I go down to Broadway, I walk in, and I'm like, How you doing? Kwame. I'm here to speak to Diddy. They're like, what? Uh, do you have an appointment? I'm like, well, he told me to come just walk down and say I'm here.
They were like, get out of here, man. You know how many people come here and ask to speak to Diddy? I'm like, all right, cool. You know what? Fuck this, whatever. So I walk out, I come out the next day with a little bit more confidence. I'm like, Hey, I'm here to speak to Sean Combs. Uh, they were like, you just came yesterday.
Can you please leave before we call security? I'm like, all right, cool.
So I, I wait a second, you know, I save up some money. I go and buy a suit. I get a little top hat, actually. I don't really wear top hats normally. But I thought it was like, it went with the uniform, you know? Of assertiveness. Of class. So I walk in there and I'm like, I look up who his A& R is also, it's Tony Baez.
And I walk in and I'm like, Excuse me, I have a 10 o'clock for Tony Baez. And, um, they're like, yeah, just take the elevator upstairs. Just go to the 27th floor. I'm like, holy shit, it worked. So, I go in there, and I go in the elevator, and I'm in this office, and 30 minutes go by, and I'm like, alright, it's cool.
This is probably what important people, they just come in whenever they want to. An hour goes by, an hour and a half. This lady comes in, now it's raining in New York City, soaking wet, and she busts into the office, and she's like, Who are you? Who the hell are you? And I'm like, I'm Kwame Onwuchi, the caterer.
I'm here for a meeting with you. She's like, you have no meeting with me. Okay, I just came all across from Midtown. Someone said that you had a meeting with me from Diddy for a catering job? Are you kidding me? This is a waste of my time. So in that moment, I'm like, Shit, I have nothing to lose. This person's already cursing me out.
You know, what are you gonna do, Kwame? Then I think, and I'm just like, Fuck it. What, am I getting kicked out? I've already been kicked out of here twice. Listen, I don't have time for this, okay?
Diddy said he wanted to meet with me? At 7 o'clock today, and I've been waiting in here for 2 hours to meet with someone. If you don't want my services, that's fine, but you're not gonna sit here and berate me. I'm outta here. And she was like, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. He does this all the time. I'm so sorry.
What are you here for? He said he was looking for a person with something. I'm like, exactly. You think I'm wasting my time coming in here with my top hat and everything? This is my best outfit. So we sit down and we talk about potential menus. She asks me if I can move to LA.
I'm like, let me see if I can move some things around in my schedule, but I probably can make it happen.
And, um, She's like, alright, well let's keep in touch. And I'm like, alright. Got my information. And I walk out, and then I realize that I didn't get her card, her email, the security guard pretty much Could tell that I was not supposed to be there at this point and I'm that's it I don't really have a moral to the story.
I just really fucked up. You know, we should really like finish strong But then I got another opportunity So Steve Stout, you know, Steve Stout is he pretty much found like Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga and a lot of other people He's an A& R He came out with this book called the tanning of America. So I was invited to the Soho house.
It's like private hotel in New York City And he was doing a book signing, so I get there. This time, I'm ready. Alright, I got a business card. I've got a website. Alright? I've made it. I wait in line. I get to him. I'm like, Stephen, how you doing? Uh, my name is Kwame. Um, I've done some stuff for other celebrities.
Diddy, things like that. Um, But, uh, here's my card. Uh, I know you probably do parties. Keep in touch. He's like, wait, wait, brother. You're a young brother doing all this stuff. This is amazing, man. Hey. Stephanie, come here. Get his information. Let's call this young brother. We're going to make this happen.
Yes! This is it! Come on, guys. Give me a round of applause. I did it. No. It's not where it ends. It's not where it ends. Getting ahead of yourself just like I did in that moment. So, I'm waiting. And I don't hear shit. It's like two weeks, three weeks go by. I'm like, all right, I'm gonna find this man. So I look up where he's doing another book signing.
I buy the book again. I wait in line. And I get there, I'm like, hey man, what's up? You said you were gonna call me? You didn't call me? You said, Oh, young brother doing all these things and nothing. And he was like, man, if you don't get out of my face, like I'm here doing a book signing. This is, this is not how you do it.
Okay. You're going about this the wrong way. I was like, man, fuck you, man. Sucks, man. I just bought two books for nothing. But then a lady's like, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Do you say you were a caterer? And I was like, yes. Did you not hear what I said to the man? Like I do events. Clearly, it didn't work out with him, but I still have my company.
Can I help you? And she's like, I'm looking to do an event. I'm looking to do an event for about 2, 000 people at the 92nd Street YMCA. 92nd Street Y, excuse me, sorry. Um, you got it. You got it. And, uh, I was like, okay, cool. Um, why don't you come to my office and we'll do an event. Uh, we'll do a tasting. She's like, all right, great.
So... I don't have an office, obviously. Um, but I did do these events for this couple in Harlem on Stryber's Road. Now, they had a three story house. I mean, I'm talking like... They had a fuckin library with a ladder in it, like Beauty and the Beast, like, it was crazy!
So, I was like, hey, you know I do all these events for you, right?
Um, can I use your house? Cause like, I wanna get this client. And they thought it was the funniest thing in the world. So they were like, well just hide upstairs, you can use our house. And, you know, call us when the tasting's over. So they knocked on the door, like...
Welcome. How are y'all doing? Can you please take your shoes off before you come in here? They're like, whoa, this is amazing. I'm hoping they don't see the photos of random black people on the wall. Cause that would have ended it. But I'm like, let's just go straight to the kitchen. Let's just sit down right here.
And, uh, Serve this beautiful three meal course. It was over before they even tasted the food. I mean, it was an amazing home. And they were so engulfed in this, like, persona. That they wrote me a 20, 000 check right there, and they were like here you go Yeah, that's cool. I guess yeah, that's great story's not over, but it's alright and They were like okay cool.
It's this weekend. It's for 2, 000 people here the details. I'll see you then So I'm like all right cool. Just you know your way out. Just put your shoes on this was by the front and As soon as the door closed I was like holy shit. What did I do? So I have to call my mom, now she's a chef, that's how I got into the catering business.
I'm like, Ma, I, please, I need you to fly up here now and help me with this event. She's like, what are you talking about? I have a check for 20, 000 in my hand for 2, 000 people and I need help now.
So she flew up, she lived in Louisiana, she got her old crew back together, she showed me how to get a commercial kitchen, she got...
A van showed me how to multiply from two people to two thousand, showed me how to prep out this stuff, and we did the event. We crushed it. Um, I actually wrote this story in the book, and that lady became my mentor, and she read it for the first time a couple months ago and was freaking out. But, um, you know, we're doing a panel with South by Southwest on the main stage, kind of about that story together.
And, um, we're doing a movie about it, so it just goes to show that Fuck it, you know, that's it.
Amy Saidman: Let's give it up for our storyteller Kwame Onwuachi. So grateful I got to meet him and work with him. His story totally inspires me by the way he, just how much he believed in himself. The power of the fake it till you make it approach. Honestly, I don't have, I don't have the tatas for that I don't think, but I'd like to.
So it's like a go to inspiration for me to just keep doing what I do and stretch myself and kind of like be the better version of myself or the version of myself that I'm hoping to meet and just like, like make these big shoes and just step into them, even if I'm not ready, just step into the bigger shoes and make it happen.
So I hope this story is getting you to think about your own stories and story district can help. We have classes, coaching, consulting. We've worked with businesses. We work with individuals. We have lots of stuff in person in the Washington DC area, but we also do stuff online. You can find out all about all of this stuff at our website, storydistrict.org, join our mailing list. Follow us on social media, check out our YouTube, all the above. Plus remember to subscribe to this podcast, tell your friends about it and leave a review. All of that really helps until next time. I'm Amy Sedman, and this is, I did it for the story.