Meet the man in the kitchen
Hi! I'm Chris, the heart and soul behind Black Feenix Catering.
It feels wonderful to share my journey with you. Years ago, I picked up my catering qualifications from Worcester College, bursting with passion for food. However, the reality of being in bustling kitchens each day became a bit too much for me, especially as I was dealing with a rare blood condition and a not-so-great immune system. So, I made the tough decision to step away from the culinary world to seek a different path.
Then came 2020, a year that turned everything on its head.
I was happily settled in a role as a lab technician in the aeronautical industry when, due to my immune challenges, I found myself isolated at home to stay safe. Working from home felt manageable for a bit, but without my beloved lab, I soon found myself on furlough and, eventually, out of a job. It was a tough time for my mental health. With the loss of my job, grappling with undiagnosed dyslexia, and mourning my dad, mother-in-law, and then my own mum all over the space of a few years, I felt completely overwhelmed.
I really hit rock bottom. I tried to hide it all, thinking I could handle everything on my own. Sadly, in Easter 2021, things took a drastic turn when my wife found me in a very dark moment. Thanks to her quick thinking, I got the help I truly needed, marking the start of my recovery journey.
Then, the situation worsened as my wife faced redundancy. Our lives seemed to collapse around us, and I felt utterly lost. I started sliding back into that dark place, trying to cope with alcohol, even if just a little bit more than I should. I had a second scare, a heartfelt plea for help really. But, being a typical bloke, I brushed off the idea of counselling, thinking I could just fix it all myself. Spoiler alert: I couldn’t.
Fast forward to early 2024, things came to a head when I found myself in a pretty bad situation that put myself, my wife, and our beloved Labrador, Lulu, at risk. That was my wake-up call. I realised I needed to change. I embraced the counselling offered to me, started volunteering at a charity shop, and dove into various self-help and vocational courses. And guess what? I rediscovered my love for cooking!
You know, the phoenix is a beautiful symbol of rising from the ashes, which perfectly reflects both mine and my wife's journeys. We're proud to call Kidderminster our hometown, well-known for having created the Penny Black stamp. My wife, Emma, found inspiration in these little gems for her own creative freelancing endeavours, which led to the birth of Black Feenix Creative and Black Feenix Travel. And thus, Black Feenix Catering emerged as my shining opportunity to reignite my dream of bringing delicious food to people's tables!
Oh, and just a little fun fact: We spell "Feenix" the way we do to nod towards my dyslexia.
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