Chef Zita Smith knows a thing or two about humble beginnings. Her mother worked multiple jobs, so her grandmother stepped in and raised her from a very young age. Due to her mother’s hectic schedule, Zita looked forward to the one-on-one bonding time they would enjoy together every weekend. They would dine out at different restaurants, enjoying the savory entrees and decadent desserts.
Zita quickly developed an appreciation and passion for flavorful cuisines, which helped build her knowledge of creating unique flavors using a variety of spices. She is now a successful caterer specializing in contemporary American cuisine with a global influence, using fresh ingredients and unique spice blends to create memorable food that keeps her clientele coming back for more. Zita also uses these same spices to service health-conscious consumers that want a reduction in the number of calories in their diets while maintaining flavor.
Zita is also the visionary behind the creation of Soteria Seasonings and Sauces, enabling consumers to create divine dishes at home.
N’DIGO is happy to chat with Zita Smith and learn about her culinary journey and see what she’s cooking next!
N’DIGO: Tell N’DIGO readers who Zita Smith is.
Zita Smith: I’m a native of Chicago, born and raised in the Austin area of the Westside! A forty-three year-old divorced mom of 1,- a very curious, creative, and compassionate soul.
I was intrigued with acting, cooking shows, and singing as a child! And I stayed in my mama and granny’s business, being very nosey in grown folks’ conversation. I am extremely independent and hardworking, which comes from my single mom. In addition to running a full-time catering business, I also sing professionally for two churches here in Chicago.
Has cooking always been a part of your life?
Cooking was always interesting to me as a child, and I would spend hours watching “The Frugal Gourmet“, Julia Child, and all the other wonderful cooking shows on PBS. While my friends and cousins were watching cartoons, I was trying to figure out what parsley and fresh thyme were and why my granny never had any or used any. My mom worked ALOT, so she barely had time to cook, my grandmother cooked, but the food was very basic as she didn’t like to use a lot of spices. My mom and I went out to eat quite a bit, which is where my palate for great cuisine grew as this was the makings of me being a “foodie “! In college, in 1998, I had basic cable in my apartment, and that’s when The Food Network was first introduced. It changed my culinary life. I became obsessed with trying the different dishes I would see Tyler Florence, Emerson Lagasse, Bobby Flay, and Sara Moulton make almost daily. This is where my love of Cooking developed, and I knew I had a natural “skill”! I would let my friends try out my different dishes, which went over well. I realized then that I had been introduced to various cuisines by my diverse friends and their families and co-workers throughout my childhood, college, and adulthood.
How did you go from corporate to catering?
In 2014, I had been in the insurance and financial services industry for almost 2 decades. After the market crash and a rescinded new job offer due to new strict financial industry regulations, I was deflated and disappointed and knew I needed to do something else. On the suggestion of a friend, she asked if I would be willing to bring some healthy home cooked meals and offer them to the employees of her non for profit on the westside of Chicago, which was basically a food desert. Most of our workers, she explained end up only having greasy fast food options from the local restaurants in the area. On 9/22/2014, I brought 20 dinners to her job. I had a few left so I posted on FB and sold the rest! This was the birth of Soteria Food Experience “Meals on the Go” which later became Zita Cooks Catering as no one could pronounce the former name correctly! ZitaCooks Catering specializes in contemporary American cuisine with a global influence. Bold flavors, fresh ingredients and unique spins on classic American cuisine is where ZitaCooks shines.
What dish did you prepare for your first corporate gig?
My first corporate catering gig was for Amtrak Corporation. One of my many faithful “Meals on the Go” customers worked for the company and asked if I could do a boxed lunch – sandwiches, chips, pasta salad, etc. I was so proud because I had just done a boxed lunch catering order for a church the weekend before. I proudly told her the price per box and asked how many ppl were we serving! She said 1,300! My heart almost stopped. She asked, Can you do it? I paused, calculated my revenue and before I knew it said YES! I had anxiety for the next 45 days…wondering how I was going to pull this one off, and if I had gotten in over my head. Believe it or not it was probably the BEST decision I made and one of the most successful and smooth corporate gigs I’ve done to date. I ended up doing that same Employee Appreciation Event 3 years in a row. It taught me so much about the “business” of corporate catering. Insurance, using vendors, hiring staff, conquering fears. I’m so glad I said yes. Every other corporate catering job was a breeze after that and I was well equipped to ask the right questions and how to invoice and do contracts.
In Summer of 2020 , at the beginning of the Covid pandemic, I launched ZitaCooks Family Pans. This basically replaced the “Meals on the Go” individual meals because now Families were at home and parents had grown tired of cooking 3-4 meals a day and snacks in addition to online learning for their kids and handling their own corporate jobs virtually- Family Pans were a lifesaver to those families. Now we provided those same delicious meals but In a pan to feed a family of 4-5. We still delivered to their door! Family pans took off so well and grew my business to the point I was able to resign from my teaching job in November of 2020 a few months after the Family Pan launch. This was a HUGE pivot and leap of faith for But I knew I loved teaching but I loved cooking and serving my clients.
Most recently, at the top of 2022 I launched Zita Cooks “FitPrep Meal Prep”. For years ppl would ask about the individual meals and I would have to tell them that I only offer catering for events or the family pans. This left the individuals, single ppl, and those interested in meal prep services out! I was finally able to lease a large enough space in January 2022 and Fit prep meal prep was birthed. To provide healthy meals to individuals wanting to hit their wellness goals and/or have structured prepared meals so they wouldn’t eat out all the time.
What made you want to eat better and cook healthier meals?
I wanted to eat healthier and cook healthier meals because I was about 50 pounds overweight. I had been dieting most of my adult life and busting my butt in the gym and group fitness classes. I always struggled with being consistent. I knew a significant part of sustainable weight loss is food choices. As I started to put my client’s needs ahead of my own, I became my client and started eating the meals I was making. Since the beginning of the year 2022, I’ve lost over 40 lbs through cooking low-carb meal prep and clean meals – the same ones I offer to my clients through FitPrep meal prep.
What makes Zita Cooks Catering different from other caterers?
I feel what makes me different from other caterers is:
(A) I like to provide a “boutique” catering experience not just a “one pan size fits all” type of experience. I see myself more than an order taker. I like to get to know the client and discuss with them and curate and craft a menu specifically for their tastes and budget.
(B) My sales and customer service experience and teaching experience has allowed me to effectively interact and establish rapport and relationships with my clients that keep them coming back
And (C) My offerings/ versatility: I’m able to provide a bit of something for everyone: I cater , teach cooking classes, private chef services, corporate catering , pop up restaurant experiences, and now meal prep. And lastly, I would say my Work ethic and consistency. It’s one thing to know how to cook well, but to be consistent in an industry where there is so much competition and other ppl offering similar services. What is going to make you standout is your consistency in the quality of the food and your offerings , your reliability, can they depend on you each and every time to deliver. I have been fortunate enough to do this for 8 years this year and I’ve gained a wealth of knowledge and am still learning.
Your business is thriving. During the pandemic did you experience any challenges?
During the pandemic is when my business grew the Most and is what has set me up to thrive currently. My biggest challenge during the pandemic was online, social media marketing and really just growing with technology. It was during the pandemic that I realized that I needed great visuals, consistent marketing and a functional website to take orders, database creation and streamline the customer process. Social media can Explode your business when used properly. I’ll be honest I used trial and error and knew that if I consistently posted about my offerings , ppl would eventually see and reshare. I’ve gotten so much new business especially with the meal preps this year by sharing my personal journey and weight loss story. I realized that Social media is about marketing but not in the traditional sense , people want to know YOU! They are not just buying FROM me, they are buying INTO me! If that makes sense! I am still learning and growing as it relates with I social media and Branding….so much is evolving and changing on a regular! I launched a seasoning line Soteria Seasonings, Inc., In August of 2020 and was overwhelmed by the response. Due to the response, I am currently working on distribution and revamping how orders go out/ shipped. Brand relaunch coming in 2023. Biggest thing I learned during the pandemic and beyond is that Time and opportunity waits for no one. You just STAY ready so you don’t have to get ready.
The best advice ever given to you?
The best advice ever given to me was- “But Did You Do It? Let me explain: so often we have ideas in our mind or visions of completing things in our head and we allow overthinking , wondering what ppl will say, how it’s gonna turn out, self doubt /fear and if it will be received well or not! BUT the key to it ALL is – JUST DO IT! The success is not in how great it was (because that’s subjective), how it was received or who even bought, but the success lies in the fact that you had an idea in your mind, you planned and executed! Period. You DID it! So many NEVER even get to this point. So I ALWAYS remember that advice from my wise best friend-But Did You Do It?
What affirmations do you live by?
Affirmations I live by:
1. Money flows to me freely and easily and I steward it well.
2. All things work for my highest and best , Always and in ALL ways.
3. Only what I am not giving can be lacking in any situation.
If you could anyone prepare you a meal, who would it be?
Oprah Winfrey: I just love her: #1 I KNOW she’s a foodie, I’m sure she’s learned a thing or two in the kitchen from all the ppl she’s met and I would LOVE to have the meal prepared from the ingredients in her garden. I know it would be a spiritual experience and the energy eliminating from those hands would be all up in the food. And the conversation around that meal would be amazing!
What’s your favorite cheat meal?
My favorite cheat meal has got to be pizza and/or seafood. I love me some good thin crust, or pan style, deep dish, or stone fire pizza. With a good glass of red wine. Some good calamari and some mussels. Yummy.
What song is currently playing on your playlist?
Beyoncé’s Cozy is on repeat and my favorite Gospel artist Todd Dulaney– his album Morning songs is amazing. He has a song that I have on repeat called “Patiently Waiting on You”! I love the song and it really speaks to my heart because for years and years you may be believing God for something and it doesn’t seem like it will ever happen. But to know that God will ALWAYS provide, He will always come…We are on his timetable. In due season, we all shall reap, if we Faint Not!
Where do you see yourself in five years?
In five years, I see myself having my commercial space that houses ALL THINGS ZitaCooks. My teaching and video recording studio kitchen for recipe demos, cooking classes and catering pickups with the commercial kitchen in back. I see my seasoning line in stores nationwide and having commercials. I see myself as a household name with brand deals and speaking engagements to youth and other entrepreneurs. I have a vision to provide a network to put black and brown chefs to work for themselves in Chicago by obtaining contracts and building a platform to send them out to work events and as private chefs. and training up youth in the culinary industry- helping to foster relationships with culinary schools and teaching them to not only be great chefs but thriving food business owners.
Where can N’DIGO readers find out about your Meals on the Go and Zita Cooks Catering?
N’DIGO readers can find ZitaCooks Catering FitPrep meal prep and our ZitaCooks Family Pan menus weekly on our website: www. Zitacooks.com FB & IG: @zitacooks
*All Photos Courtesy of Zita Smith
