Meet Tony Massey | Personal Chef and Author

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

Hi Tony, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I have a passion for cooking that started in my childhood. My grandmother would literally feed our neighborhood and her only requirement to eat at her table was that you came hungry and you prayed over your food. As I grew older and started traveling, I became obsessed with different cuisines and flavors. No matter where I ate or what type of food I enjoyed, the one constant was that people from all over the world show honor, love, and respect to one another with food. Developing my skill set for cooking allowed to me do the same for the people I am blessed to feed. I started Tony Massey Cooks to provide inspiration for other chefs and home cooks to step outside of their comfort zones and create art with food. I look forward to opportunities to serve people comfort and good food in the same way my grandmother did.

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.
Well, I’m still new to L.A., but I think I would start with brunch at 1010 Wine & Events on LaBrea in Inglewood. Their wine selection is plentiful, but not overly pretentious. The brunch is amazing and the vibe is upscale but relaxed. From there, I’d head further down LaBrea to DROBE Stogies. I love cigars and DROBE is a classic cigar shop with an impressively well-stocked humidor, oversized leather chairs, and a full service bar. The vibe is so relaxing and if you happen to enjoy an Old Fashioned, they serve one of the best I’ve had in L.A. After a few puffs, I would probably satisfy the foodie in me and head over to one of L.A.’s many farmer’s markets; I’m partial to the Torrance Certified Farmer’s Market or the Original Farmer’s Market in the Fairfax District. I’d definitely drive around and check out the incredible murals around L.A., including Miller’s Angel Wings and the Kobe Bryant mural on Alameda & 4th Street. Depending on what I found at the farmer’s market, I’d probably invite my friend over for a relaxing dinner and call it a night! Since I live by the airport and the beach, I’d encourage a sunset selfie with a plane flying by.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well, I’m still new to L.A., but I think I would start with brunch at 1010 Wine & Events on LaBrea in Inglewood. Their wine selection is plentiful, but not overly pretentious. The brunch is amazing and the vibe is upscale but relaxed. From there, I’d head further down LaBrea to DROBE Stogies. I love cigars and DROBE is a classic cigar shop with an impressively well-stocked humidor, oversized leather chairs, and a full service bar. The vibe is so relaxing and if you happen to enjoy an Old Fashioned, they serve one of the best I’ve had in L.A. After a few puffs, I would probably satisfy the foodie in me and head over to one of L.A.’s many farmer’s markets; I’m partial to the Torrance Certified Farmer’s Market or the Original Farmer’s Market in the Fairfax District. I’d definitely drive around and check out the incredible murals around L.A., including Miller’s Angel Wings and the Kobe Bryant mural on Alameda & 4th Street. Depending on what I found at the farmer’s market, I’d probably invite my friend over for relaxing dinner and call it a night! Since I live by the airport and the beach, I’d encourage a sunset selfie with a plane flying by.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would definitely have to say my grandmother, Artinese Richardson. My love for cooking started with her philosophy that “everyone deserves love and a hot meal” and cooking was her way of providing both. My grandmother would cook for family, neighbors, church members, and anyone who was hungry. She was honored by the mayor of Houston for starting a food pantry at her church that fed hundreds of people. Whenever I prepare a meal, I always think about her and how she never measured anything but her food was always perfect. She inspires me to this day to make sure love, compassion, and empathy are the main ingredients in every dish I serve.

Website: tonymasseycooks.com

Instagram: @tonymasseycooks

Facebook: @tonymasseycooks

Youtube: www.youtube.com/tmasschronicles

Other: TikTok: @tonymasseycooks Amazon.com/author/tonymassey

Image Credits
All images were taken by me.