Antonio Reed, 34 from the Pratt City neighborhood of Birmingham, Alabama became interested in the culinary industry at the age of 23 years old while already employed at a restaurant. He started his business and services under Tone Appetit.

Are you self taught? How did you gain your skill?

Yes I am self taught. I learned a lot of what I know from some great managers and teammates early on in my culinary career. The rest was YouTube and trail by fire.

When did you start to take cooking serious and pursue Tone Appetit?

I had a couple of very supportive friends to push me to get the ball rolling. They also request private dinners and catering and that showed me where it could go.

What’s a specialty dish of yours?

One of my most requested dishes is my shrimp and grits.

What all services do you offer?

I provide meal prep, catering, private dining, and cooking lessons.

What’s something you’d like everything to know that eats your food?

I want everyone that eats my food to know they are getting a piece of me. I put everything I have into planning and preparing each dish. Cooking is not only a lucrative business for me, but also an act of love.

What’s next for your business?

I have a couple of projects I’m working on. One being my first cookbook, Tone Appetit. I’m really excited about this project because I’m doing it all myself.