Meet Caleb Parker of Black Apron

Today we’d like to introduce you to Caleb Parker.

Hi Caleb, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My love for cooking has always been something that has been cultivated through my youth upbringing, and as time went by, it continued through my teens. The most interesting process for me in cooking was understanding how the kitchen works and what is needed to function within the kitchen. This passion developed from connecting with my friends and experiencing the different meals and people that entered my path. Over time this became a way of life for me to be a foodie and cook while bringing together my friends, family, and community.

The day that heavily impacted my following route in life was March 11th, 2018 – my Junior year at NC State University – I experienced a life-changing car accident that made me question the true path I want to grow in and enjoy. As I was highly impacted by this accident, I realized it was time to change my thought process and determine what I truly enjoyed. That is when Black Apron was born, and a full commitment to my purpose and skill aligned. This was the determinant of the larger impact on the world that I wanted to make and understanding that the culinary industry is everywhere and around my daily life. At NC State throughout my 4 years, I was in the lively parts of the college experience at NC State, which entailed being a party promoter, attending and cooking at cookouts, collaborating, and inevitably having friends and being that friend that always had networking events to attend or cook at. This led to me getting myself out there and then getting inquiries for cooking gigs that were right up my alley.

My story has been the stepping stone of my life, passion, and purpose, which has led to connecting with my peers at school and beyond and actively connecting with my community. Born and raised in Goldsboro, NC, and moving to Raleigh, NC, for school was a great segway into impacting a larger community that enjoys food with a universal culture and specializes in grilling, especially in the South. The community has been my biggest cheerleader, and our impact is to bring nutritious and delicious food to all.

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Of course, it was not a smooth road to get to where we are today or even to start because when you try to train yourself with certain skills and cultivate the vision, there are many bumps in the road. One of the biggest obstacles to having a business in the culinary industry is trying to get your business in a digestible place and learning the ins and outs of the best practices. This process is a time for growth and to push you beyond your limits to become clearer in your vision. This allows effectiveness in running your business while influencing and impacting the mindset that you’ll have as an entrepreneur to understand how you will deal with the highs and lows.

Within business, a certain matter of professionalism and creative balance is needed to continue the lifestyle and offerings you provide. You must show up, most importantly, and perform the best each time, no matter the location or client. But having fun in it all is very important, find what makes you happy because you will live in it every day and you can continue to improve.

The biggest challenge I had when first building Black Apron was fully ideating on the concept of what my business is currently and what I want it to be in the future to gain a clear image of the branding behind the scenes looks. This starts with a unique and timeless logo, brand strategy, and user-friendly website that works with your tailored workflow. Knowing that your community is by your side and hiring help or collaborating is essential to make this process easier.

Below are a few obstacles and challenges I went through to continue to learn and evolve that I hope can help you in your journey, especially if you are in the culinary industry.

Obstacles
a. Take me seriously and be taken seriously. Learn and understand the process of my unique business.
c. Invest in my passion with time and money.
d. Cultivate unique and timeless branding to stand out.
e. Foresight to find my angle and how I want to impact my community and lifestyle.

The Big Challenges
a. Physical demand for catering with planning, organizing, and facilitation.
b. The moving parts in the culinary industry to get the job done.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Black Apron?
Black Apron is a culinary powerhouse that facilitates Food Pop-Ups and offers Catering services in the RDU. We engage with good people to provide good food and good vibes. We bring a common ground with a flavorful palate. We aim to foster change in food sustainability by creating a community of knowledgeable foodies. Regardless of background, we will provide access to nutritious and delicious food.

Our mission is to provide a unique experience of bringing together people in space to engage in fellowship. You will taste globally inspired cuisines with a universal understanding.

Please see the below services we offer:

• Private Dining; An elevated fine dining experience for two.
• Pop-Ups; The food partnership that brings flavor to any temporary location.
• The Birdhouse NC
  The classics and new favorites, your stomach will thank you.
• ENC Smokehouse
  True Eastern North Carolinian BBQ your taste buds can’t resist.
• NYB Brunch
  An elevated brunch experience with all the flare and flavor you need on a Sunday

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Follow Us On Social Media and send inquiries through our website! Watch for gastronomical content from your favorite foodie, Forever Flye.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.eatblackapron.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eatblackapron/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlackApron1Official
• Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/BlackApron1
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCfrnA8tn2N1ZneBcc33kXZA

Image Credits
Moe Ormond, Robyn Bess