Meet Rita Hunter | Co-Owner/Chef/Safety Professional/Radiation Safety Officer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rita Hunter and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rita, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
A Lil This A Lil That came into fruition from our mother. She had a catering f company called, Hunter’s Catering for nearly 30 years. She served the surrounding Houston area for years, catering large weddings, corporate events, and creating specialized custom cakes before they became a “thing.” As she was approaching retiring age, we (her 3 daughters, Joycelyn, Charisma, and Rita) decided we couldn’t let all of our mother’s hard work and legacy vanish. During Covid she officially closed Hunter’s Catering, but During the pandemic we had people reach out wanting meals since the restaurants were closed. Since our mom’s business was solely focused on catering, custom cakes, and decor we decided to dissolve her business and start a new one. We were joking around trying to decide what we would sell and since all three sisters specialized in various cuisines we all started laughing saying the customers got get, “A Lil This or A Lil That,” and that’s how we came to be.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
What sets our staff apart is our diverse professional background. The oldest of the three sisters, Joycelyn, works in the Human Resource field and has served various roles under this discipline for almost 15 years. Not only has she worked in HR, but she has a passion for the arts. She’s the proud owner of Under Konstruction dance company. The dance company has participated in various dance competitions over the years and gives young kids the opportunity to be active and enjoy music. She’s the face and voice of the company. When you reach out to A Lil This A Lil That, you’ll interact with her. The middle sister, Charisma, is what we call a jack of all trades. She’s the social butterfly and has worked in various industries including: oil and gas, hospitality, and beauty. Charisma’s bubbly personality brings light to the group’s dynamic. Charisma does it all. She keeps the team looking good as she’s a certified cosmetologist, tax-expert, cook, and twin-mom! The last of the group is the “Boss baby,” Rita. She’s the Operations Manager for business. Rita is a certified Safety Professional and radiation officer. Rita ensures the team is safe at all times and that all meals are prepared properly to eliminate any food-borne illnesses. She keeps the team on their toes and ensures the business reaches it goals. Rita likes to be behind the scenes, but plays a pivotal role in the company’s success. Her professional background definitely crosses over into A Lil This A Lil That. The team juggles not only full-time professional lives, including all motherhood, and also managing the food business. By no means is it easy to manage it all, but the team makes it look easy. Staying consistent and providing excellent customer service has set apart from the competition. We go above and beyond to provide our clients with a memorable experience. Lessons we’ve learned along the way would be to never give up and keep going.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
We’d like to dedicate our success to our mother, Joyce Hunter aka Queen or The GOAT. Without her, A Lil This A Lil That would not exist. Her 40 plus years in the food service industry has fostered our entrepreneurialship skills and customer-focused relationships. We strive to ensure all clients have a wonderful experience when they book with ALT^2. We partner with our clients to ensure that we curate the perfect event for them. Our mother has set the blueprint for us and we appreciate her leadership, love, and dedication to the business. She’s even came out of a retirement and now works for the family business.
Joyce Hunter, we love and appreciate all you do for A Lil This A Lil That.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alilthis_alilthat/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ALilThis.ALilThat2?mibextid=ZbWKwL

Image Credits
Images Courtesy of A Lil This A Lil That, LLC.