Three Generations Creating Luxurious Healthy Dessert Options
2.13.2023
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LISC StoriesEconomic Development
Deljah “Chef Simone” Dickson, the founder and executive pastry chef of Art Delectables, is tackling the diabetes crisis– one dessert at a time. The full-service organic catering company specializes in high-quality, healthier luxury dessert options. Born into a family of incredible cooks and bakers in Michigan’s farming belt, Chef Simone grew up picking fruit from her family garden and working on their farm. She fondly recalls watching her great-grandmother preserve freshly picked fruit.
Art Delectables is woman, Black, and family-owned – Chef Simone’s mother, Clotee McAfee is the chief operating officer, and her 10-year-old daughter, Madison Dorsey is the creative guru. With a background in nutrition and food science, Chef Simone felt compelled to help people make better food choices to upgrade their quality of life without sacrificing taste. She combined her desire to help educate her community with her love of fine dining and offers vegan, Kosher, and gluten-free options for corporate clients, local grocery stores, restaurants, and hotel markets.
Chef Simone participated in Ascend LA's inaugural Spring 2020 cohort, a 12-session training program preparing diverse entrepreneurs to accelerate their growth through corporate and government contracts. Participants gain the tools and resources to take their business to the next level with sessions focused on marketing and sales, management and leadership, financials, project management, certifications, and contract acquisition. They also obtain strategy sessions with business development experts and join the nationwide alumni community with access to contract matchmaking events.
“The most profitable part of Ascend LA was learning my elevator pitch and how to build a pitch deck to immediately draw in my audience. What I learned in those classes helped me land Kroger, Sams Club, Costco, Albertsons, and the NFL Super Bowl Committee– all in the same year”
Art Delectables recently served desserts at the Grammys through an invitation from the Crypto.com Arenas Senior Executive Chef. Chef Simone plans to expand to more retail locations, build out their wholesale division, and continue their product research and development.
Developed by the University of Washington Foster School of Business and powered by JPMorgan Chase, Ascend LA is a partnership between Loyola Marymount University, LISC LA, and CMG Alliance.
The Ascend LA application is open until February 17. To learn more and apply, visit https://www.ascendla.org/apply.
