What's in a Name?

I believe the name you select for your business should reflect what it is you are selling, without the reader having to guess. It should be catchy and easy to remember. Of course, a little curiosity and interest should be sparked by the name – but it shouldn’t be a guessing game. I dismissed any notion of having my name incorporated in the name of the business… that’s so cliché. Hummm…

I began to give some thought to what my edge is in this business where competition is fierce. That should spark an idea, I thought. What makes my food stand out from the rest? It won’t be the usual fair. I won’t be using canned or already prepared frozen dishes, like those offered at the chain restaurants… “love”. I cook with a lot of love and care, using very few traditional measured recipes, but rather cooking “to taste”. I’ll call on the methods and techniques used by my Grandmother, my Aunts and my Mother for flavor, as well as the methods and fundamentals I’ve learned in school to incorporate health conscience practices and fresh new ingredients. I’ll offer foods my children and friends love so much. I will prepare dishes which will be southern soul food at its’ core and I’ll incorporate exotic and flavorful spices and ideas from Africa, the Caribbean and India. Yum!

My daughter, Katie, came up with Candied Yams. Bingo! So many side and vegetarian dishes came to mind.. so many recipes using jewel yams danced in my head! Baked yams, candied yams, yam muffins, yam bread, sweet potato waffles, sweet potato pies, yam casserole… woo hoo! So, that’s it. Candied Yams it will be.