Vee Culinary

13/06/2024

Happy ribbon cutting day to Vee Culinary 🎉
The Vee Culinary Company is a personal chef and concierge catering company based in Atlanta and the North Georgia Mountains, that focuses on the gluten free lifestyles of their clients. They believe food should create memories and not struggles. https://www.blueridgemountains.com/directory/vee-culinary/

09/10/2023

Hey , I want to share with you that after years of making incredible , I saw you making your , and I was inspired! I took your recipe and your techniques and converted them to be . I was elated with how they turned out. What say you?

20/08/2023

Favorite Chef Post 8-20-2023

I assume many of you already know I did not make it into the Favorite Chef 2023 finals. It was close, so close that I could almost taste it, but it was not in the stars for me this time!

I do want to let you know exactly how appreciative I was for the outpouring of support, posts, post shares, public and private comments. I was quite humbled by the donations that were made on my behalf to the James Beard Foundation. I know without a shadow of a doubt that your donations went to a great cause, so much so that I am posting a YouTube clip here that Julia Childs did regarding the James Beard Foundation.

https://youtu.be/NE-RDLNG7IQ

One thing that I want you to know about me is that deep down inside, I am an introvert masquerading as an extrovert. Sure, I may look comfortable, and I am comfortable when I have a purpose, a vision, or a mission. My mission is not only to expand my vision of my business but also to do gluten-free cooking classes within that kitchen. Deep down inside, I am a teacher, and I want to burst the glass ceiling that gluten-free foods are a fad diet, a hoax, or that they are intrinsically nasty and taste bad. You have all heard me say how important family meals are together, and in many situations, someone with a gluten sensitivity of any kind is often limited by what they can eat at a family meal due to the uneducated family members and cooks.

Regarding this contest, I have tried twice now to fit into a scenario that was not built for me, and I will keep trying because I know that “As I am on my path, the Universe will conspire to help me!”

As I close, I want people to know how much I appreciate the acts of love that were expressed for me, to me, and about me during this contest. To say that I appreciate these acts of love is an understatement, so please take my gracious gratitude and know that you and your efforts were greatly appreciated.

10/08/2023

Favorite Chef Competition Update 8-10-2023

At the time that I write this, we have a little over 9 hours to move from the # 2 spot to the #1 spot; I know we can do it! AFTERALL, YOU MOVED ME FROM #5 TO #2 YESTERDAY!

Yep, that’s it; we have until 10:00 pm EDT to move me up 1 spot. I wish I knew exactly what it would take to move that meter, but then, I guess it wouldn’t be a contest, now would it? Y’all do what you can do and let the chips fall where they may.

I know many of you have voted every day and donated when you can; for that, you are appreciated more than you know. I imagine some of you have even thought, how long is this thing going to last? To answer that, we have either 9 more hours, or 7 more days, depending on what happens at 10:00 pm tonight. And like I said yesterday in my video post, if this doesn’t pan out for me, there will be another opportunity that will show up.

Thank you for all you have done and continue to do. WE CAN DO THIS!

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I am grateful to/for you, and thank you for your continued support, sharing, and voting for !

09/08/2023

Favorite Chef Competition 2023 8-9-23

ATTENTION 2 - 4 - 1 voting up until midnight tonight!

I thought I would touch base with all of you, and since there are so many new people who joined in and supported me throughout the Favorite Chef 2023 competition, and tell you a little bit more about me: how I became Chef Vedam and what I have planned with the winnings. I will try to keep this as brief as possible, but it is the story itself that led me to be where I am today.

Some of you know me from where I grew up, in the coastal town of Gloucester, Va. As many of you know, I came out of the womb saying that I would be a hairdresser, and that is how many of you first knew me. I remained a hairdresser throughout my days in Gloucester, as well as Richmond, Va., and eventually moved to Atlanta. I continued with hair, becoming an educator for Redken Laboratories for about 10 years (give or take), and ended my career as the Artistic Director of a day spa in Atlanta in 2001. I left the hair industry because of spinal issues due to having spinal meningitis all the way back in 1983.

Natural healthcare and meditation took me to India in the fall of 1999, and it was there that I was given the name Vedam, and I have remained with that name ever since. This also led me to teach meditation and spiritual and personal development, and I was the founder of a spiritual nonprofit in Atlanta, where I met my husband, Nirish, in 2005.

Now, I have to back up a bit in the story because, about the time that I moved to Richmond, I began to have digestive tract issues; however, with many wrong diagnoses and many trips and stays in the hospital, that was way off track, they finally and correctly diagnosed me on August 21, 2014, with having celiac disease. So that anniversary is quickly approaching.

At that time, there were a few things that immediately crossed my mind: 1) I am a foodie and have been one just about all of my life, and I thought a gluten-free diet was a hoax; however, they told me that a GF diet was the only treatment to treat Celiac Disease, 2) The gluten-free food that I had tried tasted like cardboard, and last, 3) Since Nirish and I had moved up to the North Ga mountains to take care of his elderly mother, and I cooked just about every night; I was NOT going to cook 2 different meals a night (1 for them and a gluten-free meal for myself). I immediately became depressed about this diagnosis; however, the doctor made me promise that I would stick to a GF diet for a minimum of 60 days to at least see if it made a difference.

To make a long story shorter, I did stick to it, and within 30 days, I felt so much better. But as I said, I was not going to cook two meals a night, so I had to make good-tasting GF meals, and with my foodie background, I was able to hit on many successes.

I soon began to share those successes on social media, and people asked for a cookbook, so I began to write down my successes and eventually self-published, “Vedam’s Gluten-Free & Fabulous! Recipes From A Southern Gay Househusband.”

Soon after that, people wanted me to begin to cook for them, and my husband found out about the USPCA (United States Personal Chef Association.). I went through their business training program and began to build my business as Chef Vedam.

I immediately began to teach GF cooking at places like Williams Sonoma and private classes that I was booking on my own. I had hit pay dirt because I found a way to cook GF foods that were nutritious and delicious. Unless people knew prior to me cooking for them that I cooked only gluten-free, they were not able to tell either in taste or texture. There was quite a bit of success, but I had hit a plateau because, as a personal chef, I am licensed and insured to cook in people’s homes. I ultimately wanted to continue to cook for people, but because of my background as a teacher, I wanted to teach; specifically, I wanted to have the first gluten-free cooking show.

Basically, this has caught you up to speed up until this contest. A friend whom I have cooked for many times and had done some special events for turned me onto this contest. It was not the ideal contest that I wanted to be in, but I did think that it could be a great stepping stone to take me further into my goals.

You see, I want a commercial kitchen that I can use to expand my catering services, as well as service more clients, but more explicitly, have a place where I could teach classes as well as film cooking classes, even if they were only on YouTube in the beginning.

Having the prize of $25,000.00 to add to the $10,000 that I had banked from winning a TV cooking contest would be a great start to take me closer to that dream, and this is where you come in.

Some of you know me and are supporting me because you have known me and maybe even loved me from long ago, and many of you are just hearing about me. Maybe I should have done this video long ago, but I didn’t, and you can’t turn back time. So, with that being said, we have until Thursday, August 10th at 10 pm EDT to put me into the #1 slot, which will carry me into the finals of this contest. When I make it that far, I will be one step closer to this dream.

If I do not make it, I will find another way to make these dreams come true, but this would make this dream come true that much faster. I do greatly appreciate the kindness and support that you have given me thus far, but let’s not stop here.

I am sure that the chefs that have made it this far with me, are also great chefs. I am also sure that they, too, have dreams of expanding their businesses in some way. I am also sure that their dreams are special, but I know mine is about being able to help so many others because having a gluten-free diet is truly the only medical way to address a gluten sensitivity or Celiac Disease.

I want people to see that they, too, can have delicious and nutritious foods that are 100% gluten-free and that do not taste like s**t or cardboard.

As I said, having and sticking to a gluten-free diet is the only treatment for celiac disease, but many others are recommended to go to a gluten-free diet; for example, anyone with any auto-immune disease is usually recommended to embrace a gluten-free diet.

So, I ask you today to not only help me achieve this goal but help me to help others learn about the wonders of a GF diet. Please help me, and with that, I will close for now.

Hopefully, you will see me again over the weekend, express my gratitude, and help me celebrate being in the finals of Favorite Chef 2023.

Please share this with as many people as possible. Share this on your feed, as well as you may want to tag people on this post to alert them. You may even will want to share with them how you know me, whether it be through hair, meditation, or cooking.

I appreciate you! And thank you so much for your support!

Again 2 - 4 - 1 votes until midnight tonight, but we have until 10 pm EDT to get me to #1.

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08/08/2023

Favorite Chef Competition Update 8-8-23

I want to jump on and let you know that you are essential in regard to this contest. Once again, I have jumped all over in the Semifinals. The highest I have gone has been #2, and the lowest has been #5. Have I been concerned? Not much, because this contest has been a rollercoaster ride ever since it began back in July. We have either 2 days until the contest is done for me, or if I am #1 at the end of Thursday @ 10:00 pm EDT, we then have until the contest ends on August 17, and then until the 25th to finally hear the results.

I want to remind you that, at this point, everyone in this contest wants this as badly as I do, and hopefully, you want me to win as much as their fans want them to win. We cannot stop now! We have just a little over 48 hours to move me up to the finish line.

I hope that tomorrow the powers that be with this contest will do the standard 2 - for - 1 day, but I don’t know, so we have to vote today and tomorrow, as well as Thursday. My plan is to do a video tomorrow to tell you more about what my plans are when I win this contest, but I will wait to “bare my soul” tomorrow. And hopefully, when I bear it all, I will have the news to tell you to “hit it hard” as today is a 2-4-1.

Between now and the next few days, think a moment about what you are doing to say or do to get your friends, family, and colleagues to get them engaged to vote.

You are essential!

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07/08/2023

Favorite Chef Competition Update 8-7-23
I received this notice from the contest officials yesterday: “You are already a handful of days away from qualifying for the FINAL ROUND! You must place #1 in your group this Thursday, 8/10, to become a 2023 Favorite Chef Finalist.

The contest is getting tough now, and I am up against the other winners in their categories, so it is coming down to the wire. Please continue to share and vote, and as you share, tell your friends and family who I am, how you know me, and ask them to vote as well. I would also appreciate if you would look through your phone and text the information below to your close friends as well as your “foodie friends.” Please get them engaged. You guys have brought me this far, and I KNOW that you can carry me throughout the rest of this contest and be the winner. I am so grateful for all of the love and support, and we are almost at the finish line.

The pics that I am sharing today are pics that I took as I was busy doing a personal chef service for a client yesterday. It is Chicken and Spinach Meatballs with Creamy Parmesan Sauce, with Roasted Spaghetti Squash and Caesar Green Beans.

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07/08/2023

Totally unrelated to food, but look who decided to wander through the front yard this morning as I was sitting on the front porch!

06/08/2023

Favorite Chef 2023 Competition Update 8-6-23
Hey Everyone, So I thought since I have a big cook day today (actually cooking 12 meals today for a family that I have cooked for 6 years now), I thought I would jump on real quick without a video today (You all may be sick of seeing my puss all the time), and let you know that today is 2 - for - 1 day with your votes.

As usual, you all being rockstars, you brought me up from 6th place to 4th place, so let’s see what we can do today to bring me up further into this contest. We have 4 days to bring me all the way up to #1. Let’s do this!!!
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05/08/2023

Favorite Chef 2023 Update 8-5-23
Hey Loves, I am in the Semifinals, and I am so appreciative of all of the love, support, sharing, and voting that everyone doing to get me this far and regarding the remainder of this contest.

Semifinals: 8 - 4 thru 8 - 10: Top competitors from quarterfinals will be divided into groups to determine the top semifinalists that will advance to the finals.

Finals: 8 - 11 thru 8 - 17: Votes will be reset, and public voting will determine the finalist. The “Public Choice Winner” will be announced August 25, 2023.

Please keep sharing and doing what you are doing. Feel free to think outside the box to get your family, friends, and colleagues engaged and voting for me as well.

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04/08/2023

In a big hurry to go look at a kitchen space, but wanted to say a HUGE THANK YOU TO EVERYONE!!! We can do this!!!

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03/08/2023

Favorite Chef 2023 Update 8-3-23

AT THIS POINT, I am # 1 in the Quarterfinals, but we cannot get too comfortable yet! I was all over the place yesterday, sometimes # 1, sometimes # 2, and sometimes # 3. We all have to remember that the other chefs want this as badly as I do, so it is going to be up to you to keep me at the # 1 mark.

Please keep sharing, keep telling people how you know me, etc. Let’s do this!!!

Here is the link to vote:
https://favchef.com/2023/vedam-clementi

02/08/2023

Favorite Chef 2023 Update 8-2-23
First of all, you guys are ROCKSTARS!! I put out the plea just yesterday regarding being #4 in the Quarterfinals and that I needed to be #1 by Thursday (8-3) @ 7:00 PM EDT. I woke up this morning, I am now #2!!! So we do have a ways to go yet (since they do not inform us as to how many votes are going to move me to the #1 spot. I am keeping the faith, and it is obvious that you guys have my back. Please keep doing what you are doing, and let's all celebrate together. Let’s SEE that #1 come up on the voting feed.

I am trying to think about some way we can all celebrate together… please put in the comments below some ideas about how we can celebrate once I have been named Favorite Chef 2023.

On a side note… I have been looking for commercial kitchen space for over 3 years, and one thing or another, nothing ever panned out; however, I have seen something come up on the Facebook marketplace that sounds perfect. Nirish and I have an appointment on Friday @ 3:00 to go look at the space to see if it will work. Could this be Divine timing?

Also, I had not shared any of the professional headshots that Amanda Richardson took (other than the one that is now my profile picture), so I thought I would share some of the ones she took last week. Amanda from is so incredibly talented; let’s give her a shout-out! And for any of my chef colleagues, if you are looking for any professional food photography and/or headshots, Amanda Richardson is the one to use.

Let’s keep the voting going. Today also happens to be a 2-for-1 day, so each one of your votes counts double. Let’s do this thing! Vote, share, and as you share, tell them how you know me or some funny or interesting tale about me that you happen to know.

Here is the link to vote:
https://favchef.com/2023/vedam-clementi

01/08/2023

Favorite Chef 2023 Update (and getting things off my chest!)

Ever since I started this contest, I have received at least 1 company a day that messages me with a guarantee to make/help me win or place in the top finalists. All I have to do is buy their services, and they guarantee that I will win! And now that I am in the Quarterfinals, I receive as many as 5 offers a day from these bogus “companies”… it is utter BU****IT!

If I win, I want to win fair and square. I want to win by my friends (known and unknown) who love me, have tasted my food, have been at an event that I have done, or trust the words that come from someone they know.

This post is not directed at those who honestly vote for me, but hopefully, those sham companies that are messaging me will see this post and leave me alone!

The company running this contest assures me they know who is who when someone votes, and they do not accept those bogus votes. They also assure me that the contestant risks termination when a contestant is caught using those votes. I hope this is true.

For those companies that read this post… do not contact me again. Let’s win this honestly and with integrity.

I appreciate your continued votes and donations for those who still want to vote. Yes, I meditate; I am pretty peaceful and harmonious and am often very “kumbayah.” But I will also call out Bulls**t when I see it. I am not the one to deal with f**kery in my life! This post may lose some votes, and then again, it may win some votes, BUT IT IS ME… Through and through!

Here is the link to vote:
https://favchef.com/2023/vedam-Vedam Clementi

01/08/2023

01/08/2023

Favorite Chef 2023 Update 8-1-2023
I just received an email stating, “You need to place #1 in your group this Thursday, 8/3, to advance to the Semi-Finals.” So the s**t is getting real! You guys have until Thursday evening, at 10:00 PM, to get me to the number #1 mark.

Please continue to vote and spread the word to your family, friends, and colleagues. And for your friends that are “foodies,” as you share, you may want to tag them and tell them a little about me.
And if you can donate, please do so, as these donations go to a great cause: The James Beard Foundation.”

I also found out that I can only share one photo to be entered into the “Carla’s Pick” portion of the contest, and this is the picture that I have submitted.

No matter what happens when the results have been revealed who has been placed into the Semi-Finals, I so greatly appreciate your love, your support, and your votes.

In the video, I say August 13, but it is actually August 3rd. This Thursday!

Here is the link to vote:
https://favchef.com/2023/vedam-clementi

30/07/2023

Favorite Chef 2023 Update 7-30-23
Today (Sunday), now until 9 PM PDT, there is 2-for-1 voting, so please get your votes in before then. Just think, for every vote and/or donation done today, you will be twice as sweet to me!

And, staying in the sweet mode… Today’s pictures were also done this past week at the photo shoot with . This is a Blueberry Cornbread Cobbler with Sweet Buttermilk Cream Sauce and Fresh Blueberry Compote. This delicious dessert begins with fresh blueberries baked in sugar, egg, lemon, butter, Chef Vedam’s exclusive gluten-free all-purpose flour-blend, gluten-free cornmeal batter, and the Sweet Buttermilk Cream Sauce is made with egg yolks, sugar, buttermilk and cornstarch, and last but not least, the Fresh Bluebery Compote is made by cooking down fresh blueberries and sugar

Where to vote
favchef.com/2023/vedam-clementi

You can either share this on Facebook by sharing my post or by sharing the below link. FYI, my post gives a lot more information and shows the pics of this delicious treat!
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