Tisha Wylie: Your Soon To Be Desired Baker and Chef of the New Year 2014

Join me Kool World in Welcoming a respected cook & baker, Tisha Wylie who is whipping up delectably amazing creations that look as tantalizing as they are tasty. You can bet they are REALLY that good once you close your eyes and take a savory and sweet bite! If you've been watching the show on ABC called The Taste with Anthony Bourdain, Nigella Lawson, Ludo and you will have an idea of what you're about to get into here. You will also be a judge, closing your eyes, and wondering what flavors are mingling around on your tongue.

I met up with her in sunny California at the most convenient time (whenever it can be squeezed on 'Chef' time!) for a sweet and stylish woman who masters her own kitchen and Boot camp, YES I just said boot camp for aspiring cooks/bakers. She's not only fulfilling her dreams but she's helping others in theirs as well! Ms. Wylie is one bizzy bee has got it going on! You're about to enjoy: how the culinary life was introduced to her through the women in her family & how it completes her, Tisha's favorite foodie spots that are sure to please, what she likes to boogie and groove to in the kitchen (one of our favs!), all the great accomplishments she's making and achieving for 2014 and so much more right here, right now ;)

 It is so nice to make your acquaintance Ms. Lady Chef!

Finally I'm able to chit chat about one of my favorite subjects FOOD!

And with you there will be no shame and that is just dandy.

Tell us where it all began, when and where were you born?

Well I was born in Merced California (which is central CA) and I was raised in San Jose, California… also known as Silicon Valley or the bay area. I am a TRUE Cali girl! LOL! 

Without a doubt! :) Do you still reside in this location?

No, although I am a California girl through and through. I moved to the DC Metro Area (Northern VA, about 40 min away from DC) in 2007. I have some family out this way and I was looking for a change. I actually love the area, it's similar to where I grew up so I decided to stay!

Taking it back to your childhood, what was it like growing up?

Well I am the oldest of 4 and I would say my childhood was fun… and average. My mom was a single mom and she worked hard to make sure us kids lacked or wanted for nothing. 

Creative Touch Foods, LLC

 How did your love for cooking/baking become the 'highlight' of your life.  Were you inspired by cooking on your own or are there others in your family who have the passion and gift?

Growing up I was allowed to help out in the kitchen. The women on my mother’s side of the family were always in the kitchen they let me help every now and again. My maternal grandmother did a lot of baking and actually sold baked goods as a business. My paternal Aunt who has passed away loved to cook and entertain so I can see those same traits she had in me. And of course as the years passed I graduated to helping with side dishes to making the family menu for holidays. I also helped my mom cook growing up. I’ve also had an opportunity to take some heritage recipes from the family and make them my own.

Heritage recipes, now that's what I'm talking about! We all know what that means lol! Traditional homemade delicacies that stick to the bones and make you wanna slap yo momma as they say haha. 

So without a doubt your family most surely supports your career choice then. Are there any members who have a different attitude?

I would say generally speaking my family is supportive of my culinary career choice. They certainly benefit from it during family dinners and events. At times extended family may not understand my passion but they know ultimately if I want to do something I’m going to go ahead and do it! Ha!

Heck yea! You got that right sista lol. Like the saying goes, Don't hurt the hand that feeds ya! Don't mess with nobody's food or it's going to bring the devil out in them. There's nothing like 'GOOD' food, period.

For many black females cooking is a rite of passage, way of life, in the soul of a black woman's kitchen with mamma and big mamma and so forth lol. What is the earliest age you started cooking and can you remember what your creation was?

Yeah I do agree with that… probably more so in the South not so much on the West coast (well not in my experience anyway). My very first dish I remember like it was yesterday, I was 5 years old and my mom and I made an apple betty pie. YUM! Looking back on it she probably found a recipe in a magazine or something. But hey I was 5 I didn’t know any better all I knew was we were cooking something and I was excited about it. Lol! 

I know that's right! You had a heads up over me for sure. I was too involved with the growing pains to even give my 'precious' socializing time to divulge into such things. Coming out the womb houn-gry lol, food has ALWAYS been a fascination of mine and luckily with the life I've lived in the suburbs of Georgia being in different environments with friends and school, other than my own, opened up the doors to culinary delights of the down-home to the fancy kind (veal, Brunswick stew, etc)

There are various ways to cook especially depending on culture and location. Describe your style of cooking.

Well I feel like I had such a great advantage growing up being from Northern California. Fresh produce year around, different cultures everywhere. I call my style of cooking ‘California Style cooking’ I grew up eating a variety of different cultured influences… everything from Chinese inspired food to Indian inspired food, and of course Latin cooking. Mexico is a hop skip and a jump away. My mom didn’t know it but she was setting my palate up for what I’m doing today. California is truly an eclectic melting pot of food. My mom was a bit of a health nut growing up so I was eating foods way back then that is all the culinary rage now… such as couscous, quinoa and turkey everything lol.

Exactly what I can relate to and respect highly about your mother even though this 'healthy' approach to food and eating is taking a life of its own these days! Maybe you can agree with me on some of this. It's not so much about the choices than it is towards the calories, fat-free, reduced fat, and scale weighing. It is a bit too much when commercials and 'health experts' are basically telling the world or American society that eating particular food is better over the other because it has a smaller number of calories over another. It's ludicrous. Just the other day I saw a commercial convincing its audience that a cup of yogurt is right and a chocolate bar is wrong (with a big red 'X') for dessert because it has less calories/fat. It drives me nuts because this is why dieting is so hard and no one can stick to these 'healthy' food trends. Who wants to be told they can't eat a slice of cake?!? Moderation and balance is what I like to hear! People wouldn't binge after dieting if they knew they could still eat the foods they love. 
Your mom was mostly exposing you to various 'healthy' food which is amazing and great to add to your daily diet! As we know there are many environments where kids and families eat whatever they can afford which is not always the healthiest foods -processed or the latter. To know what quinoa, ground turkey, couscous (probably pine nuts, kale, and whole wheat bread too!) at such a young age would benefit so many people in this country alone. It's all about what's IN. Last year was Kale, now it's sweet potatoes. All the foods we get down with and been eating in the south lol. 
Last time I was out in California (May-July 2007) I caught a glimpse of Mexico and had some damn good Mexican dishes out there. Again it was slap yo momma good. A good ole' farmers market is the best. No matter where you live they are so necessary and important. We must continue to support our farmers Kool World! They work so hard so that we can eat the best from the land we are blessed with. 

Spicy Pozole

So Tisha right when I met you a Cooking Boot camp was about to happen. This reminds me of for some reason the competitive TV show THE BIGGEST LOSER and Master Chef with chef & restauranteur Gordon Ramsay, chef Graham Elliot, & restauranteur and vineyard owner Joe Bastianich. 

Give us the inside, what was your initial goal for this program to accomplish and what did you intend for it to do for its participants?  How has it been so far and will you do it again?

Well I’ve always had private cooking lessons as a part of my services. Over the years more people started requesting more ‘how to’ so I thought it would be a good idea (fun and cost-effective) to have 4 students come and complete a 2-hour culinary boot camp. I am a HUGE advocate for women to cook for their men. I was amazed how many women now-a-days don’t know the first thing about cooking and in my opinion their men are suffering. Lol Of course I cater to the men as well and the class is not just for women, but that has been the trend for me lately. I do plan on having a boot camp specifically targeted to men; you’ll have to stay tuned for that one. As of now I’ve completed two boot camps they were successful, I’ve got some buzz for 2014 boot camp dates and I hope to have people sign up so I can build their culinary muscle with the kitchen basics.

Oh yea you're doing us ALL a favor with this Tisha! You have pointed out a sad reality with today's men and women -starting with the modern day woman. Isn't it a low-down shame how you're running across women who are in the know: the latest fashion, designer bag and shoes, working in corporate America alongside men, high-profilin from day to night -living it up, and got their nose in the latest reality tv show with fellow 'divas' acting a fool yet when it comes down to the basics of womanhood such as cooking- it's last on the list... Somewhere along the line being emaciated & liberated meant 'domesticity' is for the housekeepers and maids instead of how a woman keeps herself alive and her family strong. I absolutely LOVE how you share these lessons equally with men too. No more are we living in the days of the man 'doing nothing' and not taking part in 'womanly duties'. It's time they learned how to take care of themselves instead of relying on a woman to do it for them. Being a man for many of us women who know, means taking care of yourself and showing pride in being able to care for themselves sufficiently. If you know like I do, there's nothing like a man that can cook. My father wasn't a major cook but he could make a mean omelet on Saturdays, a good hearty steak and crabs, and some memorable buttery, crisp around the edges and soft in the center french toast. Yes, Lawd! That's what I'm talking about lol! I'm still learning my way with cooking but if there's a way for me to be a participant in your boot camp I would gladly volunteer to learn from you ;)  

How do you define 'success' and what it means to be driven?  

Okay so the definition of Success is - the accomplishment of an aim or purpose. So for me I find success is not just monetary (although that is wonderful) when I complete a recipe and someone enjoys it. I find success when people enjoy the food I’ve presented to them. I find success when I’ve set a goal for myself and I accomplish that particular goal. To be ‘driven’ is something that is deeply seeded inside you. Meaning the dream you have, the vision you have, the passion you have on the inside of you for something is so massive, so strong, giving up, quitting, or doing something else is not an option. For me it happens to be cooking/baking and empowering people with culinary knowledge. 

Food trucks have become a popular and very profitable form of food service around the nation. Do you see yourself going into that direction with your business or do you prefer to keep it brick and mortar?

Well my business is a home based business right now (cupcakery, boot camp classes and meals to go). And yes food trucks are the culinary trend right now. It’s not necessarily on my radar right now, but I will never say never, I can see myself doing that for sure one day.

So if you may, please give us the backdrop. What is a day in the life for Tisha?

Cooking, baking, writing repeat! LOL! Not only do I work a conventional job, I work my food business pretty much everyday. And that consist of delivering food or baked goods for clients, answering food questions from my followers on my FB page and twitter, testing new recipes I’ve written, currently working on my cookbook… it's out for editing and I’m scheduled to have a photo shoot at the top of February. I’ll be starting YouTube videos here in the spring so I’m doing some prep work for that as well. 

You're quite a busy woman! Very nice ;) You're reminding me of Ina Garten on Barefoot Contessa (she answers food questions from video chats with her fans). My mother got me familiar with Food network while I was in high school lol, apologies for comparing you to almost everyone on there haha. Your YouTube videos can be a big hit I'm sure. I can see it now. Will it be directed towards teaching fans/viewers?

There's no way around it Ms. Wylie you're easy on the eyes and have a sense of style and pizazz about you. (I can say this from one woman to another because I can humble myself by paying a fellow sista a compliment). I'm not trying to go overboard, but I have to ask - did you model at one point in time? Any particular designers you like?

LOL! Well thank you I certainly appreciate the compliment! And women particularly black women we need to do that more often… lifting each other up instead of tearing one another down. So thanks again! Model???? Absolutely not! Although I will admit when I was about 15 or so I THOUGHT I wanted to do that so my mom took me to some local agency. Girl I am glad I learned early to stay in my lane haha!

Oh ABSOLUTELY! lol, If there's one thing I can say about myself it is this, I mean what I say and say what I mean. Cooking/Baking may just be your calling Ms. Chef but we all know (don't we kool world!) that anything can be talked into existence if we believe ;) Don't mind those skinny minis, curvy and delicious is in and it aint going nowhere! Your mom is a special mom. She opened up doors while you were a child to allow you to see what was out there for you try!

This may sound presumptuous but I can't possibly talk to a chef without asking, what is your favorite food to cook and/or eat?

Well because I cook all the time I don’t eat out very often, when I do it's typically something that I’m not going to make anytime soon Haha. My favorite food is sushi (yummy). My favorite thing to cook in my kitchen is seafood (salmon, shrimp, squid, cod, halibut) and some green vegetable. I love summer fruit… watermelon, peaches stuff like that. 

You know what Sushi has got to be the craze of the nation! Not to be rude but I just don't get it lol. I've had it before and it was just em..ok for me. I can take it or leave it, but my mother likes it rather much especially the California roll (go figure haha). Maybe I just haven't had the right one yet! 

 Peter's Bakery Facebook Click here

And continuing this same idea, what is your favorite restaurant and bakery, any yummy items we should try?
I don’t really have a favorite bakery around here, but there is this bakery that is a home town standard in San Jose, it's called Peter’s bakery. They have the best desserts anywhere. My favorite restaurant is in Oakland, California, it’s called Yoshi’s. It is a sushi and jazz restaurant. Super sexy and the food there is top notch.

Yoshi's Main Site Click here

So cute! Love the name Yoshi, it reminds me of, excuse my age difference, of Mario Bros. You know the dinosaur lol. That's a rather unlikely (for me being from the south) and fun pairing, sushi and jazz. I need to check it out with you the next time I visit Cali. You said sexy, and any place described like that has got to be worth experiencing. Peter's Bakery is also on my go-to radar ;)

What parents do for a living can have an impact on their children. 
Do you have any children to influence your cooking and baking into their upbringing?

I don’t have any children of my own (yet) but I am a huge advocate for people cooking with their children. I cook and bake with my nieces as often as I can. And I did the same with my nephew when he was younger. And when I DO have children, having them in the kitchen will be very important to me. 

What activities do you like to do when you're not happily slaving around in the kitchen?

I love traveling. I love to kick-box, I love going out and listening to live music… and sometimes I love to chill at home and watch syfy! LOL! 

See, that's fly! You have all the components: business woman: cooking, baking, fashion/style: hot looks, Staying Fit: Kick-boxing. Enjoys music and has an interest in the extraordinary. Nobody can touch you gurrrl!

Whether music is for singing, playing, or dancing in other fields it can just be a boogie boost for inspiration, creativity, or energy to move at a reasonably consistent pace. Do you listen or play music while baking/cooking? And what's rotating strongly on your play list right now? 
I have music playing ALL the time especially when I’m in the kitchen. I even have it playing while I’m sleeping. What many people don’t know is that I use to sing and write music… I even recorded a couple of original songs. So I just translated that creative energy into the culinary arts. I listen to all types of music… nothing in particular that I have on rotation, really just depends on how I feel. Current stuff of course - I love Bruno Mars, old skool and middle school jams, Latin music even some (SOME) country. And of course it wouldn’t be complete without some current gospel music. 

Well honey we would both be singing and dancing in the kitchen with spoons in hand lol! The best music can be made around the tantalizing aromas of any kitchen with amazing cooking in progress. It may just be an inspirational perk for sure ;) Bruno Mars is it and he's on top of the world winning a Grammy for his Top Pop Vocal album Unorthodox Jukebox & will be performing at Super Bowl XLVIII.

If you partake in it, how do you find time to work-out? Do you have a custom-made routine you incorporate wherever and whenever (for example using a rolling-pin as a way to stretch lol)?

Yes I do workout. I used to work out more often (like 5-6 days a week) that was years ago, but now I work out 3 – 4 days a week. I need to make sure I keep my thickness in line so I work out in the evening time and on the weekend. Zumba and /or kickboxing are typically what I do to get that work out in. And it’s a stress reliever believe it or not.  
Oh I believe it! Can you believe I've never done Zumba before?!? It looks like a stress-reliever. I need to do it. Now I'll take you up on kick-boxing girlie. I'm familiar with that and used to do it back in high school days. Good for the heart and tone-build up for sure! lol

    

How do you define success and what keeps you passionate and driven to do what you love? 
Success to me is a state of mind for sure, I mean monetary and notoriety is good and all.  I try to stay positive; I try to keep myself grounded and balanced in every aspect of my life… physically, emotional and spiritual I love what I do and I cannot see myself putting that down any time soon I think is what keeps me passionate. I could have a billion dollars in the bank and I would still cook and bake and inspire people to do the same; to me that is keeping your passion. I also want to leave a legacy and so I am doing my best to create a culinary empire that one day my child’s child will be able to rest in.

What has been the wildest, most absurd object you've seen that is eaten by people?

I went to a get together at a friend’s house and they were eating under developed chicken eggs… meaning there was a baby chicken in the shell… I watched a few people down that I could not believe it. They offered it to me, but I declined right away! LOL!

O-M-G! Do you know that is such a big fear for some people???

I think I'm going to gag for real lol. I would've declined too! One of my family members has this 'thing' about something quite similar...You know the white part that we see when we crack an egg into a bowl or pan? That grosses them out and they must remove it. For the longest I never knew what it was or knew what the big deal was...until one day I experienced something odd. I cracked open an egg and it looked like the white was 'in development' (forming into a chicken) but was caught before it did any further. I saved it to show them and their point was made lol. I'm looking every time before I start whisking or mixing in anything. It happens folks! Pay attention to your eggs.
Have you had the opportunity or chance meeting to see in person or talk to popular chefs or cooks like Rachael Ray, Michael Symon, Mario Batali, Gordan Ramsey, Curtis Stone, Anne Borrell, Barefoot Contessa, and so forth?

Not yet but I would love to. I’d love to meet Ina Garten (Barefoot Contessa), Nigella Lawson. My ultimate goal is to have a cooking show, so hopefully I can meet them then!

    

Yep... that's him! The BAM! Guy! (Emeril Lagasse) LOL!
Not a very good photo... but you know who it is! Saw him at Whole foods in Fairfax. He was shooting his new TV program.

If you've been out of the country which places have you visited and where else would you like to go?

Of course I’ve been to Mexico several times. I think for Californians we don’t really consider that ‘Out of the country’ lol! I’ve also been to South American a few times, Bogotá, Columbia to be exact. I would love to visit Italy and Greece… those are on my top places to visit when I get a chance.

Me too! With the ferocity lol. You're well on your way with Columbia already with a check-mark on your traveling list. 

If you can name any cartoon or movie, which would you say is the 'funny' or comparable version of your day-to-day life? 
Oh geesh! Let me think… I love the I Love Lucy show. I would say I’m comparable to Lucy because she was always outgoing, very inventive with some of the crazy ideas she had. And she always seem to think that it would work and pushed hard to make sure they would… sometimes it was successful… sometimes not so much haha.

Ok so I've seen movies with women having a passion for what you do. Beautiful women. At some point they wonder where their love life is going because they're so involved with it. Even cooks and bakers need love even if their lives are so busy and on-the-go. What's dating life for you? (Is it challenging with meeting people? What have dates in the past turned out to be when they learned of your type of work?)

Yes us cooks DO need love lives too haha! I have been single for about a year now. Even though most people are busy, myself included, I believe that if wanting or being in a relationship is important to you, you’ll find time for it. For me it is important so I make a conscious effort to make time for dating and meeting new people (even though it can be a bit of a challenge at times). Mr. Right (for me) is out there we just haven’t found each other yet. But I’ll keep you posted! 

When you’re at your lowest or the walls seem to be caving in how do you manage to surpass the hardships?

Honestly prayer always gets me through hardships. And of course I have good friends I can go to and spill my guts and get sound advice from as well. 

What has been the biggest misconception about you as a person and what women (and black women) cooks/bakers are like as a whole? 
As a person I would say the misconception could be that I have everything together all the time… she’s so strong she can handle it. When in reality yes I do have a strong personality, but sometimes everything is not ALWAYS together, and I have no problem admitting that. No one is perfect. And like I mentioned before: cooks & bakers, the culinary world, in general tends to be very egotistical. That is just the nature of the sport. We love what we do, we are good at what we do, we take pride in the food we create, it’s our pride and joy. Most cooks (I know anyway) network and get along well with each other just fine.

  

Risotto with Petite Scallops and Sweet Peas

What mantra, quote, or saying gives you an extra lift during challenging times or when everything is steady?

There is a scripture in the bible that keeps me grounded and encouraged. Jeremiah 29:11 and it basically says ‘I know the plans I have for you says the Lord… plans to prosper you and to give you a future and not to harm’ that is my favorite little something that keeps me going. 

Now addressing your audience! What advice can you give other chefs, cooks, and bakers working hard for success? (Especially if they are passionate but are not seeing gateways or doors opening and could feel they're not making it or good enough)
Well it’s that drive we talked about at the beginning of the interview. I think now a days our society is so ‘right now’ driven, people forget that it takes a little bit of time to not only learn your craft, but if you start your own business or even work in a restaurant or pastry shop it is going to take time to build yourself to where you want to be. Too many young people want immediate satisfaction and it’s not always that way.  

This is good advice to share.

 

With the success you've reached with what comes natural to you, what else did you have an interest in growing up. Is it still the same now or has it changed? 
I really wanted to record a full album and go the musical route. I still have a strong love of music its been a part of my life all my life, but I wanted to do something that people would enjoy for years and that I could leave a legacy doing… and starting my company and writing cookbooks is the niche that worked for me.

Wise, and never say never! You should do a little musical exploration of your own. Add all your interests into your life in any way you can. We would love to hear you sing, honestly. Hit me up when you record and I'll be seeing you again as Tisha the chanteuse ;)

My First Cookbook! Whoo-hoo! Visit my website for details: www.CreativeTouchfoods.com OR email me!

What do you see for yourself in the next 5 years?

Culinary speaking, I see myself with several cookbooks under my belt and a successful cooking show on Cooking Channel or Food Network

And that's the plan! You read it here folks ;) I'll be grinning from ear to ear when that day comes. I'm seeing your excellence first before the big wigs. 

For anyone wanting to pursue the same career as you what advice can you give up and coming cooks, chefs, and bakers?

You have to absolutely love the art of cooking and/or baking. It can be hard and time consuming. I would also say keep a teachable spirit (being a chef is a very ego driven sport) and try and network with as many cooks, chefs anyone in the industry as you can.

We thoroughly enjoyed you sharing your world with us Tisha! We'll be looking out for your cookbook, more with your Culinary Book Camp, and your big break on Food Network! We know it will happen for you luv.

Tell us how can we the readers and fans keep up with the Latest & Greatest for the next Big Bite.

My website will be up and running within the next 60 days or so, until then people can stay connect to me… follow me… order products from me… sign up for boot camp at www.Facebook.com/TishasTable OR on Twitter @ChefTishaW and Instagram @ChefTishaW

                                    SEE MANY MORE TASTY DISHES CREATED BY HER!