“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” – Winston Churchill
Shereen Gomaa owns a local catering and ready-made meal company called Delicious. She is someone who gives her heart, soul, passion and talents each and every day. The restaurant and catering industry is known collectively as the ‘service industry.’ The nomenclature for this industry is profoundly exhibited with a raging loving force via the team at Delicious. And that dedicated team is populated with many from the local refugee community and their stories inspire and feed the collective soul with delectable middle eastern fare. Here is Shereen to tell her story.
FW: Tell us about your origin with cooking and feeding people.
SG: I was always in my grandmother’s kitchen when I was a child in Egypt. I was always watching the women in my family and learning everything I could from them. I grew up in a communal apartment complex where the residents shared a common area for raising chickens and growing produce. I can even remember clearly how inspired I was by the freshness of the ingredients and I remember the variety of spices used all through my childhood.
I always loved cooking, but my bachelor’s degree was in accounting. I knew in my heart, though, that I wanted to use my love of cooking as a way to assist people in need. Never did I ever dream of having my own catering company, but I knew I could do something that put my passion for food to use with the idea of being of service in a way that was meaningful.
FW: Tell us about the development of Delicious – your beloved non-profit catering and ready-made meal company.
SG: In 2017, I saw an increase in the number of refugees being resettled in the Triad and I wanted to help them in any way that I could because I understood just how difficult their situation was. They had to flee their homes and leave their entire way of life behind, coming to a new country with a new language and culture.
I started out before that just really cooking for family and friends for special occasions. People always told me I should have my own place. That I should definitely make my food for the public. And so, we started Delicious as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2017. I knew first-hand that the local refugee and immigrant community had plenty of capable and talented women who wanted to provide for their families. Women often come to this country alone and have to be the primary supporters of their families. They need a way to make a difference and work hard and live with dignity. I wanted to make the transition easier for these women while helping them to see how valuable they truly are, being such talented breadwinners.
I never dreamed that I would operate a thriving business when I started, but I began to believe in what I could become especially during the pandemic. By being strong, and determined and staying the course through such a tough time, we saw what was possible for our team.
FW: What events or opportunities have provided the best moments for Delicious?
SG: An example would be the meals we have prepared and donated for organizations such as the Bethesda Shelter and many other nonprofit organizations. We even were the featured caterer for a huge gala for World Relief Triad for over 300 people! That night, we presented the entire staff and showcased their stories to the attendees there. We heard endless comments and praise that evening. Many attendees knew of our story and history and said they attended the gala primarily because they knew we would be there with the food. We have gained many repeat customers from these wonderful events.
FW: What does the future hold for Delicious?
SG: A small counter, take-out restaurant. I would love to open a small simple place that features our amazing food and makes it easy for everyone to enjoy what we do. I can envision not just the women who are on my team now, but also their family members. It would continue to be a community that supports each other and does amazing things together. And we have such unique, fantastic desserts made from scratch – I could envision a time when we are shipping those desserts to customers anywhere!
FW: What do you want the readership to know about Delicious?
SG: That we would love to connect with larger corporate clientele to become their go-to choice for catering and meal options. We are certain that once someone tries us, they are customers for life. We want the public to know that, truly, our secret ingredient is love. We always say that we are unique, and we offer food with a purpose. By coming to us, people are enjoying unforgettable food while also being a part of an amazing cause helping the local immigrant and refugee communities.
FW: Who would you like to nominate for our next People of Prominence installment?
SG: Dr. Alessandra Von Burg. Alessandra is a Professor at Wake Forest University and an amazing human who supports refugees and immigrants, and is a founder of Every Campus a Refuge at Wake Forest University. She has been amazingly supportive of our mission and deserves to be highlighted for her tireless work supporting underrepresented communities in our area.
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