Today we’d like to introduce you to Kameryn Hoban
Hi Kameryn, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I fell in love with food at a very young age. As long as I can remember my family and I have spent the best times at the kitchen table sharing a homemade feast. I am blessed to be in a family that uses food to bring people together. It is truly an act of love and I am grateful my parents passed it on to me. I’ve cooked, ate, and explored food all my life but it wasn’t until I got into college that I started sharing this passion on social media. I had some friends encourage me to start a food Instagram and name it “Kamsplate”, and so I did.
For a while, my Instagram was just a silly little thing I randomly posted on and didn’t put much effort into. I never thought food would be a part of my life and career as it is now. I always felt like food was a “selfish dream job” and it was hard to understand how I could make it a job that I could give back to people and my community.
I think a lot about the culture of food. Every kitchen around the world has its unique traditions. Food can be so much more than a means to an end. Food evokes emotions, expresses the truest form of love, and represents traditions and cultures. I plan to spend the rest of my life working to be a more inclusive and sustainable cook. Good, nourishing, and beautiful food is for everybody. My hope for my Instagram and cooking career is that I inspire others to try new things in the kitchen and at the table, meet new people and learn about each other through food, and respect where our food comes from: the animals and earth that provides it.
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?
Are any roads truly smooth??
I love to reflect. I do this not to regret the decisions I’ve made but as a way to show appreciation for how much life can change in such a short amount of time. Working on social media can be tricky for anyone, no matter how emotionally in-tuned or strong you might feel, comparison is the thief of joy and it can be very easy to get caught up on socials.
I like to say the road I’ve gone down has been filled with bumps and cracks, twists and turns, but it is the road I was meant to take. Even if it wasn’t the road I thought I would take, it led me to some amazing people and opportunities.
I still have a lot to learn but I am happy to experience the highs and lows of figuring it out.
Graduating from college I was pursuing nursing and planning to be a Midwife. Now, two years later, I’ve worked as a private chef, I’ve hosted supper clubs, I’ve cooked on the line in restaurants, and I’ve changed so much. The road you think you have to take is often different from the road your journey is meant to be on.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am taking a step away from professional kitchens at the moment. I will always hold a special place in my heart for line cooks, as they truly are a different breed of human. I will miss the hustle and bustle of working on the line in a busy high-end restaurant, but right now in my life, I want to prioritize different things.
My goal for the second half of this year is to build my brand on social media, continue to share recipes that I’ve been working on, travel and share food recommendations, and inspire others to try new things. I also want to start hosting supper clubs again. These are my absolute favorite events to cook for as they allow me to exercise my creativity, cook for new people, and get strangers together around a table for a fun night centered around food. Seeing the final product come together and everyone have a great time, truly lights my soul on fire like nothing else. I pour so much love and dedication into these events and I am most proud of myself when I can pull them off. I’d love to start working with brands hosting sponsored supper clubs while representing good ethical brands I support.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I was an absolute terror… and if you ask you ask my family they’d say not much has changed. My nickname growing up was “The Hurricane” because one glance at a room and you could tell I had been there. One of the chefs I used to work for once called me the “Chaotic Cook”, and I think that pretty much sums up my whole life. While I am in the kitchen I always have a million projects working at once, twenty dishes being made, and ten more ideas in my head.
I have always loved to eat and make messes. Growing up my friends’ parents said I’d eat them out house and home at every playdate. I have always been creative, I grew up loving art and painting. And now I find myself using food as the tools and a plate as a canvas.
I was a very spunky, strong-willed (bossy), and charismatic child and I think a lot of that has been put into my cooking. I love experimenting, adding more, and pushing my boundaries.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kamsplate/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kami.hoban/
- Other: https://linktr.ee/kamsplate
Image Credits
I take all my own pictures.
