How a Cleveland Girl Built the Chef Bae® Brand

Every entrepreneur has a story.

For Chef Bae Sherri Smith, that story begins in Cleveland, Ohio, where a love for food, family, and hospitality would eventually grow into a brand recognized by millions.

Today, Chef Bae Sherri Smith is known as a celebrity private chef, cookbook author, entrepreneur, content creator, and founder of the Chef Bae® brand. But long before the cookbooks, products, and social media following, she was simply a young woman with a passion for cooking and serving others.

Cleveland Roots

Growing up in Cleveland taught Chef Bae many of the values that continue to guide her today.

Family gatherings, home-cooked meals, community, and hard work were all part of everyday life.

Those experiences helped shape her appreciation for food and the role it plays in bringing people together.

Many of the traditions she celebrates today can be traced back to those early years.

Turning Passion Into Purpose

Cooking started as a passion.

Over time, it became a profession.

As her skills developed, Chef Bae pursued opportunities in:

• Catering

• Private Chef Services

• Recipe Development

• Culinary Education

• Food Content Creation

Each opportunity helped build experience and confidence while creating a foundation for future growth.

Building a Brand

Creating the Chef Bae® brand did not happen overnight.

Like many entrepreneurs, Chef Bae spent years learning, adapting, and improving.

What started as sharing recipes eventually expanded into a growing business that includes:

• Cookbooks

• Seasonings

• Sauces

• Catering Services

• Private Chef Experiences

• Digital Products

• Culinary Education

The brand continues evolving while remaining grounded in its original mission of helping people connect through food.

Growing a Community

One of the most significant milestones in the Chef Bae® journey has been building a community of more than 2 million followers.

Through recipes, food videos, entrepreneurship content, and personal storytelling, Chef Bae has connected with people across the country and around the world.

The support of that community has helped transform a personal passion into a thriving brand.

The Move to Atlanta

Atlanta provided new opportunities for growth.

Known for its vibrant food scene and entrepreneurial culture, the city became the perfect place to continue expanding the Chef Bae® brand.

Atlanta's appreciation for Southern cooking, creativity, and business innovation continues to inspire Chef Bae's work today.

Lessons Learned Along the Way

The journey from Cleveland to building a recognized culinary brand has taught many valuable lessons:

• Stay consistent

• Believe in your vision

• Keep learning

• Build genuine relationships

• Never underestimate the power of persistence

These principles continue guiding every new chapter of the business.

Looking Ahead

While much has been accomplished, Chef Bae Sherri Smith believes the journey is still just beginning.

New products, partnerships, educational resources, and opportunities continue creating exciting possibilities for the future.

The mission remains simple:

Use food to inspire, connect, and bring people together.

About Chef Bae Sherri Smith

Chef Bae Sherri Smith is a Cleveland-born, Atlanta-based celebrity private chef, cookbook author, entrepreneur, recipe developer, wife, mother, and founder of the federally registered Chef Bae® brand. With more than 20 years of culinary experience and a social media community of over 2 million followers, she continues inspiring audiences through recipes, cookbooks, catering services, seasonings, sauces, and culinary education.