Chef Bryant Williams, also known as Chef Baul, started cooking experiments when he was 8 years old.
He has worked in the hospitality sector for more than ten years. But over the years, he has learned about different cuisines on his own.
Having many siblings allowed him to experiment with different cooking techniques. At age 18, he started working as a dishwasher. A few months later, he asked the head chef if he could try cooking. He started working as a prep chef and fell in love with jobs like chopping onions.
Working with food became an outlet for him, giving him priceless alone time to think and make plans for his future. This made him realise how much he loved cooking for other people. He started to picture himself doing this every day and made the decision to start his own private catering company.
He established Chef Baul Catering in 2013, specialising in upscale catering with a focus on southern, Caribbean, and Asian cuisine. He became well-known in the music industry thanks to his delectable dishes and upbeat demeanour, which led to him working as a chef for well-known performers like Cardi B, Offset, Lil Baby, Kendrick Lamar, and Gucci Mane. He eventually accepted the position of personal tour chef for the rappers Migos during their global tour.
After enjoying his role as a personal chef on tour, Chef Baul decided to fulfill his dream of opening his first restaurant in 2019. His goal was to offer his heartfelt dishes in a sophisticated and cozy environment, according to Forbes.
Unfortunately, despite initial success, his restaurant venture quickly collapsed, resulting in the loss of the opportunity that was meant to transform his life. This setback led Chef Baul into a state of despair, causing him to lose not only his aspirations and savings but also his self-assurance. This difficult period eventually led him to homelessness.
In the midst of the gloom, Chef Baul experienced a significant turnaround when he crossed paths with Daniella “Ivy” Emillien. Ivy, a former celebrity hairstylist and the creator of The Ivy League Academy, a financial literacy program, played a pivotal role in his comeback. Through her program, hundreds of black-owned businesses have been able to secure over $1 million in business funding by harnessing the potential of good credit and tailored resources. Ivy, who later became Chef Baul’s wife, helped him rebuild his life thanks to her finance and business skills.