Meet Flavia Gois | Kitchen Chef

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

Hi Flavia, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
After working for several big catering companies and restaurants in Brazil, I have noticed that a lot of people wanted a more intimate experience with a Chef. After some trials with friends, I have designed an exclusive concept and started my catering company in 2016, Flavia Gois Personal Chef.

The company was designed towards customer experience. Small gatherings, no more than 40 people, customized menus, drinks, flowers, table setting, colors and much more. After the client got in touch, a meeting was scheduled so I could understand the whole concept of the party, see the place to get a feeling for the event. Preparations usually would start 4 days beforehand and up untill the last guest leaves the party, everything needs to work seamlessly. The concept was to bring a superior experience, without any worries from the beginning to the end of the party.

I took a lot of work and effort to come up with an excellent job every single time. In the beginning it was a touch and go, but after 6 months I was well established in the business, with an agenda full of commitments through the following months since clients liked the concept and told about me to their friends.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Becoming a Chef wasn’t my first choice for a career, I tried business and law first but wasn’t happy doing that so one day I had figured out that my happy place was in the kitchen, making and bringing memories through food. I started studying Culinary Arts at CIA (Culinary Institute of America) back in 2006, but wasn’t working professionally, just filling a life call. Years later, after moving to Finland, I worked as a Chef for the Brazilian Embassy in Finland for about one year. In 2014 I was back in Brazil and decided to do another Culinary Arts course. I graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2016 and didn’t stop there, right after that I did my Masters in Food Safety and finished in 2018. I moved to the USA in July 2019 and during the pandemic while the restaurant business was down I did another Master in Chemistry for Haute Cuisine from Harvard University. In May 2021 I started working at EATS as a chef and a manager.

It wasn’t an easy road, tons of up’s and down’s, balancing a work life, marriage, a kid, plus moving out of the country and out of my comfort zone played a big tool. I have a great family that has my back in all aspects, and that helped a lot. Trusting yourself that you will be able to overcome any kind of challenge that comes your way also really helps. I have a very positive way of looking at problems and bumps in life and in the end, a ride is a ride, just enjoy it and learn from the mistakes and achievements.

My lesson is to move forward and trust myself.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
First and foremost, cook a nice meal for my friend, bring over a bottle or two of wine, talk about us and have good laughs. I will take my friend to my favorite places in the city, taking her to my best taco place (Dona Lenha), going for long walks at the Memorial Park, Natural History Museum, my Pilates (Club Tanglewwod), bring her for a nice ice cream at Amorino, and finally window shopping at the River oaks district. I would also bring her shopping at my paradise shop (Central Market), going to Surfside Beach for a leisure day, to the Cherry Club downtown for an all night long 80’s dance party, mostly just enjoying this great city that is Houston.

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?
I would like to give my Shoutout to Executive Chef Adam Williams from EATS by A Ma Maniere, that hired a woman Chef, with no background in the USA (a lot in Brasil) and gave me the command of the kitchen of his restaurant here in Houston. He trusted me, my potential and experience, also helping me to achieve and develop different menus and concepts for other EATS restaurants all over the USA. The partnership that we created is amazing, because we can combine both experiences and transform into something special for our clients.

Instagram: flaviagoischef

Linkedin: FlaviaGois

Image Credits
Thais Holanda Flavia Gois