[00:04] — Food Is More Than Recipes, It’s Culture
Chef Toya opens with her core philosophy: what you ate growing up says everything about your background, family, and identity.
[01:25] — First Cooking Memory at 8 Years Old
Frying fresh-cut French fries in a cast-iron skillet for a friend while her parents were asleep — learning by watching for the ripple in hot oil.
[04:08] — Discovering Her Gifts at 25
Struggled in traditional school and felt like a disappointment. Didn’t find her artistic gifts until 25, and believes the timing protected her.
[06:21] — Shakina Tattoo: Divine Light From Her Hands
Tattooed her own fingers with “Shakina,” meaning divine light — so everything that comes from her hands will be divine light.
[12:43] — First Job at 15 Cooking in a Corner Store
Walked into Super Saver (which later became Brothers) with two plates of food, got hired on the spot cooking po’boys, fried chicken, and hot sausage behind the counter.
[20:39] — Poet, Actress, and Artist Before Chef
The city knew her as a poet, actress, and abstract artist first. Took 12 years to finish a 2-year culinary program while bouncing between culinary and theater school.
[28:36] — Fired From Bank Job Two Days Before Wedding
Mishandled a $50,000 deposit as a teller and was let go. Her then-fiancé told her to go do what she’s great at — which sent her back to culinary school.
[33:09] — Kevin Belton: Food Is a Vehicle For You
At her first professional job at New Orleans School of Cooking, Kevin Belton told her this stage is just practice. That one line made her stop fighting her journey.
[47:29] — Rejected From Hell’s Kitchen, Started YouTube
Got far in the Hell’s Kitchen process then got cut last minute. Instead of quitting, she created her own YouTube cooking show — which grew organically and got her noticed by TV networks.
[56:07] — The Moment She Realized She Made It
Not awards or billboards — it hit her two years ago watching snow fall in New York after a Today Show segment. Called her professor crying, then went home and thanked her mom for being tough on her.
[01:01:00] — Book: Cooking for the Culture
Part cookbook, part memoir — from waking up to Channel 4 and coffee in New Orleans to teen pregnancy and TV. Includes “hood classics” like fried eggs and rice and commodity peanut butter cookies.
[01:14:16] — Next Book: Cooking From Scratch
Pays homage to Malinda Russell, the first free woman of color to publish a cookbook. Teaches accessible recipes, building community, and loving other cultures through food. Releasing June 16th with launch at Whitney Plantation.
“Food is more than recipes, it’s culture.”
In this episode of From NOLA with the Forstalls – Local Legends, host Jonathan Forstall sits down with Chef Toya, a world-renowned chef, author, and creative force, to talk about her journey from a struggling student to discovering her purpose through food.
Chef Toya shares how she taught herself to cook at just 8 years old, navigating a childhood where she didn’t fit into traditional academic systems but found her voice through creativity and food. Raised in New Orleans, surrounded by culture, music, and flavor, she explains how her environment shaped her unique perspective, and why food is deeply tied to identity.
This conversation goes far beyond cooking. It’s about purpose, faith, creativity, and trusting your instincts, even when the path isn’t clear.
In this episode, we cover:
- How Chef Toya started cooking as a child (and taught herself)
- Growing up in New Orleans and how culture shapes food
- Discovering your gifts later in life
- The connection between food, identity, and family
- Creativity, intuition, and thinking differently
- Why success doesn’t always come from a traditional path
- The mindset it takes to build something unique
This is a powerful conversation for anyone trying to find their path, trust their creativity, and turn passion into purpose.
