Meet Khalieb Rufael | Private Chef and Co Founder of Spice Boyz Supper Klub

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

Hi Khalieb, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Ever since I was a young child, I have wanted to operate a business. I remember my parents asking me what I wanted for my 8th birthday. I told them I wanted to have a garage sale. I remember feeling an immense since of pride in being the person that people came to when they needed something, and I was content with that being my contribution to the world.

I ended up coming to an epiphany while experimenting with psychedelic mushrooms while in college. Among the many realizations that I came to that day, one of them was that I wanted to study business, with a focus in entrepreneurial studies.

After receiving my degree, I did a 6 month unpaid internship at a high end restaurant in one of the upperclass neighborhoods of Houston. The restaurant was called Arturo Boada. Arturo was the head chef and owner of the restaurant with a background that included cooking for George Bush Sr. He showed me the ropes of how a kitchen works. I learned that when you’re producing really good food, people are willing to pay whatever for it.

At the same time as my internship was going on, I had also began to meal prep for friends of friends. I would be getting paid next to nothing, but that was fine for me at that time. An inexperienced home cook without ever having ran a real business before. I looked at it as practice for the day that I can charge what I truly believe I’m worth.

I have always been an advocate for people being creative and doing what they truly want to do despite the challenges that one may encounter in the process. Such is the spirit of entrepreneurialism in the states. The only thing that separates those who came out successful and those that didn’t, is that the successful ones never gave up. I won’t give up. That’s why I chose this to start my own business.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a glorified cook, when it comes down to it. I discovered my passion for food from watching Anthony Bourdain on TV with my parents as he traveled the world, meeting new people and paying homage and respect to their cultures and customs.

These days I look forward to bringing my art to the forefront through the beauty of film. I have a project in mind involving a food film shot in my fathers home country of Eritrea. I can’t wait to bring it to fruition.

If I were to pass before my time, I want for the world to know that my only intention was to make a strong positive impact on the people that I encounter in this life.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Someone who deserves credit and recognition in the success of my career are two of my good friends from high school. Wesley Pride, was one of my friends who came up with the idea to start meal prepping. I remember sitting with him in my friend Hung’s apartment after I graduated from university and not knowing where to start in order to take my cooking career seriously. His bright idea was for me to meal prep.

Ashton Williams, (my other good friend from high school) was the first person to ever purchase food from me. I remember talking to him about his dietary needs and preferences and crafting up some meals to deliver to his house.

Website: chefkhaliebrufael.com

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZfe4S00FbIyNh6FdXfRNYQ