Local chef Sophia Marie Landrew credits McComb schools for giving her a good start in life, and she wanted to honor teachers because she thinks they are often overworked and underpaid.
“You know how it all started? Someone said I had a good potato salad, and I just ran with it,” Landrew said of the origins of her career as she passed out free plates of food to teachers in the cafeteria of Denman Junior High School on Thursday.
Landrew, a Pike County native, will be graduating from Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts in Boulder, Colo., in October. She has finished her coursework and is back home in McComb, serving her community and putting down roots.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without McComb schools,” Landrew said.
She brought plates of her homemade “Crazy Cajun Pasta,” corn and garlic bread to the cafeteria. She also gave teachers a choice of sweet tea or her specialty “street juice,” which is 90% fruit juice. It is made up of the juice of watermelon and other fruits with a special, secret twist. She said she is also known for her special sauces.
In early August, Landrew served breakfast to the teachers of North Pike Upper Elementary.
“I would like to reach all of the schools,” Landrew said. “I would love for the other schools to contact me and set up a time when I can serve them.”
Katered Eatz, Landrew’s catering business, provides catering services for large events. She also provides private chef services for individuals in the area.
“I want to bring some new services to Pike County. We do not have private chef services in our area, so I am trying to introduce some things to the area,” she said.
Landrew can be found as Chef Sophia Marie on Facebook.
Smiles and laughter filled the area around the table as teachers expressed their gratitude for the plate lunch.
“People like food,” Landrew said.
People do like food, but they also sincerely appreciate being appreciated, she noted.
