Today we’d like to introduce you to Mina Aleite
Hi Mina, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
This was not my anticipated career path by any means. I was on track to become an early childhood teacher when I came face to face with an unexpected and abrupt, life-changing event. The passing of my dearly beloved father came with no warning or sign and truly threw a wrench in my life’s path. Since I can remember, food, wine and gatherings have been at the forefront of my life. The deep rooted foundation of my being started in the kitchen of my childhood home with my father. He would cook every day and we would gather around his delicious creations to spend the purest of moments together as a family. My mother was also an incredible cook (ask anyone- she’s the master of all salads!) but my father was the true creative mind behind it all. After my father’s passing, my life came to an abrupt halt and I felt a need to do something that would honor him and honor my roots. In this, Mina’s Meals was born. I started my culinary journey providing weekly meal plans to my friends and new clients. Little by little I started getting inquiries about catering events and so, I followed the rolling ball. Mina’s Meals proudly graduated to Mina’s Catering. Soon enough I was exclusively catering events and expressing myself creatively in my food and table designs. I also recently opened a new business that goes hand in hand with Mina’s! It’s a dinnerware rentals company called MESAZUL. Named in part by my daughter, Colette *Azul*. There is a true passion and love for what I do that comes from a very pure place in my heart. I’ve learned that there is always a silver lining in the darkest of times and I live with mine every day.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Absolutely not! I think everything good in life comes with its bumps and detours. My journey has had many of these but they’ve ultimately made me a stronger, wiser and more experienced chef and business owner. When I first started, the only thing I knew was to cook. I knew nothing else. The ins and outs of a business come with experience and there is no way to get to success without going through the highs and (many) lows. One of my challenges I can vividly remember was having a tough time learning how to put a price on my work especially because there were so many factors I had to take into consideration before coming up with these various numbers. Another huge struggle I had was learning how to be punctual and to gauge the right amount of time my team and I needed to setup an event. I definitely ran into a lot of gut wrenching issues with this. Though I wouldn’t want to go back to those times, I value them tremendously because they helped mold me as a chef and a business owner.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I create unique culinary & catering experiences for any and all events. I cater entirely to the client and their special event be it a wedding, a baby shower, a bridal shower, birthday parties, corporate events or even intimate dinners at home. I specialize in mediterranean food because it’s what I love but I can create any cuisine the client wants! I love diving into other cultures and creating special plates that ring true to the client’s heart. I’m known for creating beautiful grazing boards and tables full of lush foliage and floral accents as well as delicious tasting food. I truly believe that food enters the eyes first before the taste buds, so both the aesthetic presentation and taste are equally as important to me. My creative and rustic table designs as well as my deeply homey flavors set me apart from other companies. My attention to detail and the way I closely work with my clients is also something incomparable to other companies. I really care about my clients and I listen to them in depth to make sure I bring their visions and desires to life.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
There are a few… honesty, punctuality, and my #1 goal at every event: client happiness. It is so important to put the client’s happiness at the forefront of everything. When the client feels heard and seen throughout the entire process from start to finish, is when your event is sure to be successful. And I think success comes in small steps. Every step, every event, is an intentional step towards success. It’s an ongoing accumulation of intentional steps forward.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://minascatering.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/minascatering/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/minascateringmiami
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/mesazul.co/
Image Credits
Mina’s Catering, MESAZUL
