Check Out Jaz Richardson’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jaz Richardson.

Hi Jaz, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My passion for food has existed since a very young age. I remember vividly the day I feel in love with the both the art and science of food and the day I found out there was a whole channel dedicated to nothing but food called Food Network. Man, MIND. BLOWING. The way this discovery stoked the embers to my fiery passion for food never ceases to amaze me. While most kids were watching cartoons I was watching Emeril and Bobby Flay.

There is no doubt, there is always so much to learn about food. It’s never-ending. Food culture teaches us that there are so many ways to do something right. Meaning how one person may make dumplings may be different from another person. Yet, both are amazing – just different.

Knowing this makes me want spend a lot of time in the kitchen as well as get out and learn more and discover more. Which is how I got started with Kudos Food Dose. Kudos meaning “praise” and Dose meaning a “quantity of something.”

Basically, my goal with Kudos Food Dose is to create a platform that offers recommendations & remind people to 1. STOP EATING MEDIOCRE FOOD. 2. Give (praises) to each good (dose) of food you partake in.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Smooth? No. Yet, I am grateful for some of the struggles along the way as they allowed me to learn more about myself, fall in love with food even more and meet some pretty cool people too.

In 2016 I became diagnosed with lupus. The amount of pain I was in affected my ability to hold my favorite chef’s knife, stand up and cook or even enjoy food. I lost 30+ lbs within a span of 3 months from simply not being able to eat. This was tough as a foodie AND as someone one who was known for posting the best places to eat. I felt out of control of my own body and like I was letting people down.

Going through this was one of the hardest things I have ever been through and I was genuinely scared I wouldn’t be able to be who I once was and I would never heal.

Without a doubt, I did find some healing and I indeed was not who I once was. Going through this, as cliche as it sounds, taught me to take nothing for granted. Life is for living. So now, I eat things I said I wouldn’t eat. Except, chitlins – that’s where I draw the line. & I don’t delay on trying out new restaurants in the city or reaching out to other local foodies just to simply say hi.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I recently graduated with my Masters in marketing and currently, I work for the government working with data. Although my 9 – 5 isn’t a direct reflection of my food passion it does assist in my growth and helps set me apart in ways some might not initially think of.

Having a degree in both hospitality and marketing and now working with data everyday – I am able to combine those things and adequately understand what I can do to truly grow Kudos Food Dose to its full capacity.

I am most proud of my eye for food. I have the ability to take pictures and market them in a way that’s crave-able. I think all food should be crave-able. People should follow me and say “oh, I need to try that, and that and that too!”

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up I was the semi-quiet curious child. I never wanted to spend the night at anyone’s house and be too far from my mom and home, the place where I had the permission to nerd out completely. I was always into something and trying to build things out of legos. I wanted to know why things worked the way they did so “why?” was always a follow up question. I have always been an ambiverted curious creative and old habits die hard.

Contact Info:

• Email: KudosFoodDose@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kudosfooddose/

Image Credits
Michael Richardson