Meet Kyndra McCrary | Chef & Experience Curator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kyndra McCrary and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kyndra, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
I have been a risk taker my whole life. There is a common saying that’s “no risk, no reward”. I truly believe this statement. Anyone who is successful took a risk. The worse that could happen is nothing which is where you started lol so if I dream up an idea, I always take steps to make it a reality. If I fail, I learn from my mistakes and tackle things a different way.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a chef and consider myself and artist and a creative. I don’t just cook to cook, it’s more of an art form for me. I’ve always been a creative person and I take that into my culinary world. My goal is to always create an experience for people which is what sets me apart. I’m where I am today with a lot of blood, sweat and tears literally. It has never been easy but when you have a vision and a passion it’s hard to give up on it. I haven’t reached my ultimate goals and that is what keeps me going. It’s the faith that I have that I will accomplish what I set out to do.

I’ve learned over the years to be more encouraging. As a perfectionist, I’ve put that burden on others and have not always been the most encouraging to people working for or with me. I’ve learned you really have to engage people differently to pull out greatness. Affirmations and encouragement are more motivating then always correcting people and projecting my perfectionist mentality on them. I lost a lot of great employees early in my career because I didn’t get it then.

What I want people to know about me is that I am truly passionate about what I do. Love is my main ingredient. It’s my goal to make people feel catered to. My brand is about luxury but also that feeling of nostalgia. I want people to be reminded of “grandmas house” when they experience me and my brand with the addition of visual elegance.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m in between Los Angeles and Houston so I have a couple of answers for this. While in Los Angeles I would definitely have us start our morning at Cafe Fig in Hotel Figueroa eating pancakes. To date they make the best pancakes I’ve ever had! Later in the day I would head to Joeys for their chicken lettuce cups. If we were in Houston I would head to the museum district to explore that scene. I’m into any and everything art related. In Los Angeles or Houston I would look for a live music / poetry event for the evening. Two of my favorite places in Los Angeles with this scene are The Baked Potato in Hollywood and Verse! The food is great in both places and the live music is next level. Somerville (Issa Rae’s new spot) has the most amazing drinks. I would sip on cocktails there.

I had a restaurant in Leimert Park (Los Angeles) and I think anyone visiting Los Angeles should experience Leimert Park. It’s rich with culture and extremely talented individuals, it makes you feel like you are transported somewhere else in the world.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My mom has been the source of my encouragement. She has been so supportive of my dreams and she showed me strength growing up. She went through so much but never gave up and pressed on. This is where I get it from. Her love and support has been a driving force. When I was at my lowest, she was there to encourage me which gave me the strength I needed to not give up on my dreams. She has sacrificed so much for me and I’m forever grateful!

Website: https://www.chefkyndra.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefkyndra/?hl=en

Image Credits
Jason Beals
Kaye McCoy
Isaiah Bouie