Say Cheese! The AYCE Gala celebrates the power of entrepreneurship

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

The décor was opulent; beautiful floral arrangements, sophisticated lighting, and grandiose decorations greeted me as I walked into the much anticipated All You Can Eat Gala. I was treated to a welcome with a red-carpet entrance, and there was a sense of excitement as attendees arrived dressed in their most elegant, daring, and fashionable attire. Dluxe Photo Booths were strategically set up at the entrance to capture the glamorous arrivals, and naturally, I stopped to take a picture. Cheese!

I collected my swag bag, which was distributed to the first 50 guests, along with my raffle ticket. I must admit, I was excited. I had never been to an all you can eat gala in my entire life, so I had no idea what to expect, but I knew I was hungry.

Michelle Rochester who serves as President, CEO and Head Chef of MNR Catering is the brainchild behind the AYCE Gala. Paul Junor, Toronto Caribbean Newspaper’s Community Journalist, had interviewed Michell on Thursday September 7^th, 2023, and she emphasized that the AYCE Gala is a different brand and separate entity from MNR Catering.

“The All You Can Eat Gala celebrates and empowers individuals, creating an inclusive and uplifting atmosphere where people from all walks of life come together to share their stories, inspire one another, and foster growth,” Michelle shared with Paul.  “In order to amplify the benefits of the AYCE Gala there will be an emphasis on people, entrepreneurship, leadership and financial empowerment, the event is dedicated to breaking the stigma around issues and promoting equality, equity and diversity.”

As I took my seat, I recognized one of the hosts immediately; it was the one and only Jalen Nelson from Lick My Fashion, along with the beautiful Hip Hop Diva Taaylee G. As the DJ spun some R&B that took me back to a time, the top saxophonist in Toronto, Jay Smooth played alongside him, and kept the audience in a reminiscent state. I was having a great time, but I noticed that the time was ticking, and unfortunately, I was sitting at an all you can eat event, but there was no food. The appetizers were plentiful, but after a couple hours, you could tell that the attendees were starting to get anxious (hangry).

Jalen and Taaylee G kept us entertained by playing games like “Name that Tune,” and finally, Michelle arrived and explained to her guests what had happened. Apparently, there were some issues when it came to preparing the food at the venue, so Michelle had to think on her feet. She and her team had to bring everything back to her home, cook it there, and then bring it back to the venue. Obviously, her nerves were shot by the time she arrived, but she gracefully shared her story, and the night carried on without any further hitches.

Ironically, in her interview with Paul, Michelle shared her excitement about the 2023 AYCE Gala as she believed that it was building on the lessons learned from the AYCE Gala in 2022. She shared with Paul that she had started planning nine months in advance to ensure that everything runs smoothly.” Life happens with a lot of unforeseen circumstances, and you want to be prepared for anything that comes your way. It is important to have more than one plan. This will help you stay protected should your plan go south. When working with other brands it is important to not only have written communication. Having a strict contract in place ensures both parties are aware of what they are committing to. Lastly, budgeting is what will save you when planning all the finer details.” Thankfully, Michelle was prepared and was able to handle the food disturbance elegantly.

What was powerful about The AYCE Gala was how well it celebrated the power of entrepreneurship through the many brands that were showcased. They included: DY Luxe, Skin so bold, Seetzz & Co Events, Ben Rose Apparel, Bad Beauty Boss, Resin 8 Unity, Just Create Toronto, FashionBuzz Boutique, A & A Juice, KNB, Kerl Beauty, Hidden Smirk Photo-booth, Sweeter needs, Nugs Popcorn, BFit, Vision Eleven, Shop Journeeranin, Exquisite Decor Events, Rochester Manor, Charcuterie Creations, Events by Anieka and MNR Catering.

Michelle is excited to partner with the Toronto High Park FC (THPFC) as it directly provides help to many youths in the community of Rexdale who play soccer. With her partnership with the Children’s Aid Society (CAS), the AYCE Gala champions human well-being and encourages everyone, men and women alike to join in solidarity and celebrate the incredible impact people have on the world.

Overall, it was a night of sophistication, extravagance, and the joy of contributing to a good cause. Even though things didn’t go exactly as planned, this is definitely an event I would attend again. Thank you, Michelle, for inviting the Toronto Caribbean Newspaper to be a part of this, you will continue to have our support.