Chef Nea

 

Born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Janea "Nea" Scott fell in love with cuisine at a young age. Watching Iron Chef and recording what she and her mother cooked on tape was her favorite thing to do at the age of 10. By the age of 13 she was preparing full meals for her family when her mother took on a second job.

 

Nea enrolled in L’ECole Culinaire in 2009 to enhance her cooking skills to assist her mother and with a dream of opening a catering business. The plan was to only do the 10 week certificate course. Janea's skills and heart were synced at L’ECole. She rose to the top very quickly as she became an ambassador for the school and made Dean's List every semester. During that time she began baking for friends and family. The requests quickly rose from just cakes and cookies to party platters and family meals.

 

In 2010, her business flourished when she made a bet with her aunt. The bet was that she could create a fancy cake made with fondant. The cake turned out well for a first time cake with 100% scratch made ingredients. The cake was so delicious that everyone at the birthday party was asking what bakery it came from. Her mother then went home and surprised Nea with her first set of business cards. That cake in August of 2010 began what was called Cakes by Nea.

 

Upon completion of her Associates in Culinary Arts, Nea's skills and her business grew 147% the first year and then evolved into Cakes & Catering by Nea, as it is known today. Chef Nea has worked in kitchens cooking for 1000s in Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Colorado, Wyoming and even do a few dishes for friends in Germany.