The Story of Light & Loaded Cuisine

Dedicated to my mother:

From a child until this day, Soulful Sunday dinners, warm laughter filling the space, and most importantly amazing food on the table, was the spark that made me fall in love with cooking. At times, life gets crazy and being able to have those simple moments around the table enjoying great food together is important. My mother Joanna Gadson was the pinnacle of those times. With the great gift of being able to unite people through her cooking, she always had her doors open for anyone, showing her care and love through her food. Being the founder of Light and Loaded I started as a one-woman show in my kitchen taking requests from family and friends. To provide a variety of traditional, vegetarian and vegan dishes individually & catering services has been a pleasure. Remembering how my mother worked with dedication and enthusiasm has me striving to achieve the same. I began this journey years ago and while of course there were some trying times, my love for the craft has kept me going. I enjoy reinventing the idea of soul food, pushing taste buds out of its comfort zone. My food is bursting with familiar and new flavors that complement each other perfectly. I love to transform things into my own signature flair and awaken the palate to new amazing experiences. I am beyond excited to share my food with my community and even beyond that. My love for cooking has not been the only reason why I began this business. I want to bring families together in the same way that my mother’s Sunday dinners had. I, not only, want to encourage eating healthier but for people to enjoy delicious homemade food and more importantly, to bring us back to the table. As I raised my children, I always maintained the idea that the best part of having a meal is having it with family.  
I always knew that I was meant to create flavorful art pieces! 

Master Chef: Tinya M. Calhoun