Daily Inspiration: Meet Tanisha Carter

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tanisha Carter.

Hi Tanisha, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Hi, my name is Tanisha Carter, better known as “Chef T.” More importantly, mother to Michaela & McKinnah. I have been cooking for over 17 years and was classically trained at Johnson & Wales University. My cuisine is what some may call soul food with elegance. The music sets the tone; the ambiance entices the visual; food plays a delectable symphony on your taste buds; all while the aroma permeates from the kitchen, reminding you of your grandma’s kitchen. All of these elements incorporated set the perfect ingredients for a Foosic Experience! I want my client’s culinary experience to tickle all 5 senses!

Food & Music have always been an underlying thread in my makeup. Music is the avenue, and the food is the vehicle! Both grandparents were called cooks in their own right, and people would call them to cook their signature dishes for whatever event they had! Music was the language that allowed me to always connect with my parents. In a time when growing up in a broken home was the norm, music allowed me to escape any issue. Food has always been a gift and passion, but being a single mother raising two wonderful girls has been one of the biggest challenges. Making rash decisions to make sure my eldest daughter was provided for landed me in a few unsavory situations. That then caused me to spend some time incarcerated. Even in my darkest time, food & music got me thru.

Another passion is volunteering or giving back to the less fortunate. I often say, “We are one paycheck away from being homeless.” I have fed the homeless and included love letters with their meals. I currently work with the Arise Collective for their Recipe for Change program, where I teach women in their transitional housing program how to cook healthy, cost-effective meals. Coming out of my darkness, I vowed to give back to those individuals that helped me get back to my first love, FOOD! Plans in the future are to make The Foosic Experience a household name at the Grammy’s, VMA’s, Essence Festival, basically any event that food and music play a part, the Foosic Experience needs to play center stage. I aim to ensure that Michaela “The Teenager” & McKinnah “Boss Baby” understands that they can do anything they set their mind to. I want to be the person who shows them that anything is possible, no matter the obstacles, with prayer and hard work.

Anecdotes: Feeding the world one plate at a time while making cooking fly!

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t been an easy road. One of my major challenges is the time! As a mother of two, an educator, a full-time nutrition director, and a full-time chef, where do I find the time to do it all? The answer is sometimes I don’t, and I have to be ok with that because I rather give my all than half of me. Another struggle is the age of social media. I have to admit I’m still learning. I sometimes think that I could be much further if I could navigate the pretty pictures and amazing videos.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
My daily vision that I operate my life and career is “Feeding the world one plate at a time!” So everything I do is centered around that; I’m a chef/owner of “The Foosic Experience,” a catering company creating experiences for its clients. Currently, I’m a Director of Child Nutrition at a charter school in Durham, NC, where I also teach a health & wellness class to 8th graders titled “Health & Wellness: A Journey from Farm to Table.” I also work closely with the Arise Collective (IWPM), where I lead a Recipe for Change class. This class is tailored around me helping women in transitional housing on how to cook and shop healthy while on a budget. But I get most fulfilled when I connect with these ladies on a personal level. As I shared earlier during my time down the wayward path, I often wish I had someone that could connect with me without judgment. You see, food is not just a physical meal but also a spiritual meal. I guarantee that when you have a Foosic Experience, you will leave with more than a full belly. It will fill your soul as well! I guess you can say this makes me the proudest and what also sets me apart from my competition. It’s often said, “Your gift will make room for you,” and it truly has.

What matters most to you?
My girls and my legacy! I want to ensure my girls can handle the curvy path and the unknown stressors of life and have the knowledge to pivot or adapt when necessary. Every path hasn’t been perfect, and I haven’t always moved in the right direction; but when the creator decides it’s my time to depart the land of the living, I want my life to have mattered. My uncle has worked as a Juvenile counselor for over 20+ years between here and Arizona. On his journey back from a mission trip, one of his students (all grown up now) approached him in the airport bathroom (far from his home) and shared how he remembered my uncle’s unbiased treatment of him. See, I guess back in the man’s younger life, he was troubled, and my uncle extended grace and treated the young man with respect; and left him with a favorable experience. I hope to do the same. When I encounter past customers or potential clients, I hope they first say, “I remember when, or I heard that” The Foosic experience was amazing!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheft.carter/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChefT.Carter
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBAxAtnlQ2UzxGmNwaJLH2Q