ThaWilsonBlock Magazine Issue8 (October 2013)

Artist Development – Business Marketing – Social Awareness

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“I am

aiming for the TOP. I won't stop until I am

�

on TV

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Mistah Wilson: Erinn! Good to have you back for this exclusive with thawilsonMAG. Tell us exactly what Meals in Heels is...

Erinn: hahahaha, Thank you for Featuring Me on the COVER! Meals in Heels is Basically Me as a "Lady Chef". I combine my Passion for food, Art, Fashion & Just being a Woman with Meals in Heels. I often get asked if I cater, & I just want to put it out there, that I don't cater or even have the time to do food gigs outside of my Job as a Private Chef...

Erinn's Meals in Heels is The Name I'm Using to Brand MYSELF and to Help People Know who I am and What I'm About.

Mistah Wilson: Who are you targeting with this particular niche of yours?

Erinn: Well, I am aware that because I am a Female, & because I work with food, I am BOUND to attract Men... hahahaha... HOWEVER, I really Try to attract EVERYONE. I am In to Fashion & maintaining my image as a "Lady Chef", so I would Hope to Relate to Females as well. I Hope to also attract Artists, Fellow Culinarians, foodies, culinary students, and the younger generation... to help them feel more comfortable to try new things and know that knowing how to cook is SO important... whether your male or Female, younger or older, single or 17 married.

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Mistah Wilson: What's the best thing you love about what you do?

Erinn: Wow, thats such a LOADED Question for me!

Cooking for me is both Relaxing & fun. I LOVE listening to music & Having a glass of wine while cooking...However, it's fun for me to create & experiment with new flavor profiles & combinations. I get really in to a zone, tasting and thinking about how I will excite the dish. Plating my food is SO important to me as well. I love to use different china, colors, sauces, & garnishes to make my food pop. I literally love EVERYTHING about it, to be honest. From Shopping for fresh, local, and seasonal ingredients... to creating edible art.

Mistah Wilson: How did you come up with the idea of meshing food with modeling?

Erinn: I am a HUGE girly girl & am SUPER in to fashion... and with my experience in the industry & working side by side with ALL men... I know how make my food more appealing, by throwing sex appeal in the mix!

While working in the restaurant industry, the chefs, cooks, servers, runners... you name it, would always tell me " you're too pretty" to be behind the scenes... you need to be in the front. Growing up, I was also made fun of. I had braces, a headgear, a bowl cut and was also a little chunky. As I got older, I gained my self confidence, & learned How to put myself together. I have NEVER cared what anyone thought of me & have always had Thick skin. For Years, I knew that the crazy schedule of the restaurant industry wasn't for me, but I couldn't figure out a way to still cook everyday & express ME. My Job as a Private chef now, Has really opened up my schedule & has allowed me to really live out my passion while staying true to myself. I just figured... there really isn't anyone out there with my idea... or at least they may be attractive, but can't cook... or visa versa... so I decided to express all of my ideas in photo shoots... and Hope that People really love it & I can become 19 KNOWN for This!

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Mistah Wilson: So what are you favorite dishes?

Erinn: ohhh man... Talk about a HARD question... 1st of all, I am NOT a picky eater... I eat EVERYTHING & try new things all the time. My favorite cuisine is mexican... I feel like it can be both Healthy & Comforting... depending on how you prepare it.I love a good chile verde & chile relleno. BUT, I do LOVE Braised Short ribs... I feel like you can NEVER go wrong, when you order them at a restaurant. I LOVE Pork belly & Duck as well. I can literally LIVE on Pizza for the rest of my life...

I'm absolutely obsessed with it. I do always have to have a nice green salad with every meal though, I LOVE my vegetables & fresh greens. hahahaha, I'm not sure if that really answered your question‌ oh! and I am also OBSESSED with Thanksgiving dinner.... I can eat turkey with gravy, stuffing & green bean casserole forever!

Mistah Wilson: What level are you trying to take Meals in Heels to? How big of a deal is it?

Erinn: I am aiming for the TOP. I won't stop until I am on TV. As a Kid, my parents put me in acting classes... because the bullying at school was beginning to give me a complex and make me really shy. Acting Changed my life... and actually, it was my acting coach who told me to get in to the restaurant industry as a plan B after graduating high school. I am MADE for TV. I am very friendly & out going. I talk to anyone and everyone. I find people so interesting and LOVE hearing & learning from people's past experiences. I really don't care to have a cooking show on Food network... but My DREAM is to have a talk show about food. Where I can interview chefs, foodies, celebrities about their favorite recipes, their diet, etc.... and of course I'd wear a different pair of heels for each episode! I also would Like a TV Show where I go to random restaurants and acknowledge the females in the kitchen. I really want to represent for women... period... in anything & everything 21I do.

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Mistah Wilson: What motivates you to keep going?

Erinn: I am VERY Self Motivated. Being One of the Only females in a high stress/ fast paced / Sexest/ Cut throat environment really turned me in to a BEAST. I am fearless, and I really do believe that ANYTHING & EVERYTHING is possible. But really, What HELPS to keep me Motivated & Fighting for my Dreams are the non believers & the people who think I'm crazy & Tell me I can't & won't be anything. I don't believe in negativity & ONLY surround myself with Positive people who are focused and who strive for success.

Mistah Wilson: Now when it comes to the photo shoots, what are your limits?

Erinn: For Me, There's NO LIMIT... However, Meals in Heels is Classy. I will NEVER be completely Nude... But I do try to make it about a dish or popular ingredient. I am an artist at the end of the day and I create visions in my head of MY look as the model, the setting of which I'm Shooting, the Vibe I'm trying to give my audience & How I will tie everything together. My goal is to come off "cut-throat" & "tough"... While Still remaining "feminine" & "sexy". I want to be taken seriously through my craft & talent... and not as "Just another girl with a pretty face"... I'm unique.

Mistah Wilson: Do you currently do this full-time?

Erinn: No, I am a full time private chef.

Cooking Pays the bills. I work very hard everyday to maintain my social media and brainstorming looks for my next shoot. My Photo shoots take place on my days off from cooking & when I can afford them.

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Mistah Wilson: Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?

Erinn: I See myself on TV. I see my Show/Shows being a huge success & Hopefully doing a lot of Traveling & endorsements for food brands/ kitchen apparel/ grocery Markets/ Wineries etc. Once I am financially Ready, I would LOVE to open a small restaurant. I dream BIG & The Sky is the Limit for me!

Mistah Wilson: And for all tha young women and girls who look up to you. What encouraging words do you have for them?

Erinn: First & Foremost, STAY TRUE TO YOURSELF! Don't EVER Loose sight of your Vision. YOU can make ANYTHING Happen, But you Must be dedicated, focused, PASSIONATE & PATIENT! I am still learning Patience myself. Stay Humble and Positive!

Always Remember to NEVER let success get to your head, & NEVER let failure get to your heart!... and No matter what people may say, never be afraid to DREAM BIG! Mistah Wilson: Lets hear them shout outs!

Erinn: Shout Out to ANYONE and EVERYONE I have EVER worked with...

Whether your a Dishwasher, You Cook, or you Wait on People. I Have Learned SO much from you ALL & Appreciate You ALL So So much. I also would Like to show SO much love to my family & Close Friends, for supporting my career, when though I missed out on a lot of vacations/ holidays/ parties etc. I love you all tremendously. HUGE Thank you to my Wonderful Clients Ruby Polanco & Trish Grimes Who Hired me to cook for them. With Out You guys, There would be NO Erinn's Meals in Heels. You Both have Changed my Life, and I owe SO much of my Success to you. I love you Both So much. I Want to Thank Whole Foods Pasadena. Some of you Have become Like Family to me, & I'm thankful for Your support. And Last But Not Least, Thank You to thaWilsonBlock Magazine! I am Extremely Honored you chose to Interview me24and feature me on this issue's COVER!!! I am SO Excited!

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