Today we’d like to introduce you to Carolyne Thomas.
Hi Carolyne, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started cooking at the age of 10 after my father was killed by a hit-and-run driver. I started cooking as a way to help my mom out. Things were tough for my mom as she suddenly became a single parent of 4 children. One moment she was a wife and mother and in an instant, she was a widow and a single mother of 4. Seeing how hard my mom worked to bring some sense of normalcy to our lives I wanted to do something to help her out. So I started helping out more around the house, helping my siblings get homework completed, and cooking.
My father was a great cook and I would spend time with him in the kitchen so doing this was not a problem. Soon my frozen pot pies and green beans turned into spaghetti and then on to chicken, macaroni and cheese, and greens. After going off to college, I pursued my degree in engineering but I knew that one day I wanted my own business. I knew whatever business I chose would be a business that involved food in some way. College was a struggle at first because I was sick most of the first two years and suffered and struggled in silence.
Many people were not aware of the fact that before I came to the University of Tennessee Knoxville that I had undergone surgery and was not fully recovered when school started. By the grace of God, I was able to get it together after my college advisor told me that I would never be an engineer and that I should change my major. That statement just woke something up in me. Not only did I get a Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering, but I also went on to receive a Master’s in Civil and Environmental Engineering. My goal of owning my own business was not immediately realized. I obtained a job working as a Project Manager/General Engineer. I did this for many years and then started back cooking more and having friends over. I was always entertaining and would have friends over for some good food.
I began a little cooking on the side and then one of my dearest friends asked me to cater the food for her wedding. After catering her wedding I knew that catering was the way to go and I took small steps and catered small events here and there. As a single person, I still had time on my hands and decided to become a foster parent. That limited what I did in terms of catering. I was blessed to have a great support system and when I did cater, I always had friends who stepped up to make sure my girls were taken care of. As the girls got older, I met the man of my dreams, got married, and eventually adopted my foster children. It was more important for me to be available to my family so I continued to limit my catering.
Once my girls started high school, I began to take on more catering jobs. I officially established my business and Soul Elegance Catering was born. Soul Elegance Catering is a full-service catering company with a passion for providing succulent, quality, customizable, and affordable cuisine for all occasions. Soul Elegance Catering goes beyond simply providing the most scrumptious cuisine for your event. We take pride in our creative food presentation and event design which will enhance or complement your event theme. We ensure that our catering services are tailored to satisfy your personal needs and budget.
Our motto is “Touching Souls One Bite at a Time”. When one’s soul is touched, a part of your innermost being has awakened. Soul Elegance Catering is the premier choice for individuals interested in creating unforgettable events. After all, who can forget those times in our lives when our souls have been “touched?” I continue to work as an engineer. Once I retire I plan to make this my full-time business. So many people ask why I would go into the field of engineering just to cook for people.
My response is that engineering taught me how to solve problems. Engineering is just a springboard to do whatever you want to do in life. Engineering is about planning, design, and execution to prevent a poor outcome. To me, catering is just the same. After being in business for over 20 years we are still touching souls one bite at a time.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth road. Life is filled with challenges. The two biggest challenges that I faced were balancing church, family, my job as an engineer, and my catering business and COVID-19. COVID-19 has almost destroyed my business because a lot of people are not having large gatherings and food prices are high.
As a small business, it makes it difficult to compete because our prices are higher and most of the time I have to do all the prep and cooking by myself because I cannot afford to pay the labor. Nevertheless, God has continued to take away and I know there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
We’ve been impressed with Soul Elegance Catering, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Soul Elegance Catering is a full-service catering company with a passion for providing succulent, quality, and affordable cuisine for all occasions. Whether you are planning a private dinner party, baby shower, company picnic, reunion, banquet, or a lavish wedding reception, Soul Elegance Catering has something for you. At Soul Elegance, our services include customizable catering solutions that suit your needs. Taking pride in customer satisfaction, your personalized menu begins to take shape after a one-on-one consultation for your specific event.
Soul Elegance Catering offers a variety of hors d’oeuvres, desserts, luncheon selections, dinners, and buffets which can include vegan, vegetarian, and ethnic selections. In addition, if you choose we can provide carving stations, carved fruit, wedding cakes, and a variety of specialty food bars to enhance your event. Some customer favorites include our mashed potato, macaroni and cheese, salad, hot chocolate, and fajita bars. No matter what menu you choose, we only use high-quality fresh products to provide flavorsome food items that will not only tantalize your taste buds but touch your soul.
Soul Elegance Catering goes beyond simply providing the most scrumptious cuisine for your event. We take pride in our creative food presentation and event design which will enhance or complement your event theme. With over 15 years of experience, we at Soul Elegance Catering understand the importance of customer satisfaction. We ensure that our catering services are tailored to satisfy your personal needs and budget. Our motto is “Touching Souls One Bite at a Time”.
When one’s soul is touched, a part of your innermost being has awakened. Soul Elegance Catering is the premier choice for individuals interested in creating unforgettable events. After all, who can forget those times in our lives when our souls have been “touched?”
How do you think about happiness?
I am happy because God has allowed me to help and serve people. God calls us to serve others and food is a way to make that happen. I am just happy in Jesus and thankful for all the blessings that He has bestowed upon me.
Contact Info:
- Email: soulelegance@me.com
- Website: www.soulelegancecatering.com
- Instagram: @soulelegancecatering
- Facebook: @soulelegancecatering
