Rising Stars: Meet William Whichard of Raleigh, NC

Today we’d like to introduce you to William Whichard

Hi William, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
What’s up?! I’m Bj, also known as Chef Groove. My journey into the culinary world started at a young age, where I found myself inspired by the art of cooking. I spent countless hours in the kitchen, experimenting with various ingredients and leftovers. Although I initially pursued a business degree and explored several business ventures, my growing passion for cooking eventually led me to formal culinary training and a fulfilling career as a personal chef. So whether you need a chef for your next event, cooking lessons, or simply a taste, my famous question is, “Are you hungry yet?”—I’m here to make it happen.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Smooth? Let’s try the complete opposite. The journey has been the furthest thing from smooth. While my passion for cooking has been a constant, turning it into a career involved so many challenges. I can’t lie making the shift from a small business owner to formal culinary training was intimidating. It required both a heathy financial investment and a commitment to mastering new skills, which was a huge leap of faith. Also establishing a reputation as a personal chef and building a clientele from scratch involved a lot of hard work and patience. Networking and marketing myself were crucial steps in gaining trust and a following on socials. Lastly, the long hours and intense focus required in this field sometimes made it difficult to balance work with personal life but I make it my mission to prioritize my family.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As a personal chef my main focus is to create a culinary experience that my clients will never forget. My services range from intimate private dinners, event catering, cooking classes and pop up events where I showcase my creativity. What I am most proud of is the ability to be part of my clients most cherished moments.The feedback and gratitude from clients who have had their events elevated by my cooking are incredibly rewarding. What sets me apart from others is my connection to my clients. I genuinely try my best to build long lasting connections with each client. Making sure to understand their preference and to ensure that their experience was tailored just for them.

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
To be completely honest with you Apple Music is the only app on my phone that never closes. Music sets a fire to my creativity. My absolute favorite thing to do is turn on a playlist and allow my hands to do the work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.chefgroove.com/
• Instagram: @damngroove
• Facebook: Chef Groove