18-year-old Mia Simone Davis is the founder and owner of Mia’s Kitchen and Food Truck (Mia’s Kitchen on Wheels) as well as Healing Roots. She started her catering business in 2021 at the age of 15 fifteen from the kitchen of Hope Restores, a non-profit founded by her mother.
Davis grew up with a grandmother who owned a culinary business called Kim’s Kitchen that sold different southern cuisines. In an interview with The Racquet Press, Davis described this culinary background as amazing and empowering.
“Cooking has kind of always been in my background. I grew up on a food truck at the age of nine years old,” said Davis.
Davis is also the vice president of Black Student Leaders (BSL), a student-led organization that started at her local middle school. Besides doing fundraisers Fundraisers, she also used the opportunity to provide the cooking for the programs held by BSL.
“It was extremely cool because I was used to just cooking for my family and friends. But having different people in my community try my food, it was extremely empowering and it made me feel so good,” said Davis. “And so many people had so many great responses. I remember every day people were like, ‘Start a business’.”
Encouraged by the positive response, Davis opened social media accounts for her new business and catered for birthday parties, bridal showers and other minor events.
The next big push came in the form of a fundraiser held by Black Student Leaders close to Black History Month. Davis catered as usual and planned on giving all the money she made to the fundraiser.
“I literally did this just to get myself out there, create a name for myself and fundraise for a great cause and so we put that out, and I got over 25 pre-orders,” said Davis. “I was like, what in the world, this doesn’t make sense, and at the time all I was doing was cooking out of a local nonprofit.”
On Sept. 26, Davis’ food truck, Mia’s Kitchen on Wheels, made its debut.
Davis said, “I said it at a 14-year-old that I’m going to have a food truck before I had Mia’s Kitchen… I already knew that this was my future. I knew that my future was always going to be bright, that I’m worthy of so much and that nothing can stop me.”
Davis said all the support from the community led her to give back in her own way. She explained she would find cool recipes on TikTok, make them and then drop them off at a non-profit for free. This, she said, brought her a lot of happiness.
Davis then reflected on the challenges she has encountered and the sacrifices she has made.
When she was younger, she moved from Madison to La Crosse; Davis shared difficulties she experienced being a black girl in a predominantly white middle school.
“I was a really quiet girl, a really sweet girl, and then me being sweet and being quiet as a black girl, I became a target,” said Davis. “And the fact that I am here where I am now and I’m so resilient and I didn’t let not a single thing stop me is so humbling and it’s a testimony.”
Davis also touched on the difficulties of running Mia’s Kitchen while in online school and recounted times when she had to sacrifice family vacations and social events to focus on her business.
About two months ago, Davis got into a car accident that caused severe damage to the Hope Restores building. Two reckless drivers drag racing over the Copeland Ave viaduct had crashed into her.
“[Hope Restores] was the first place I’ve ever seen when I moved to La Crosse, Wisconsin. That was my first home before I moved into a house… that was so traumatizing, it was so heartbreaking, it was terrible.”
Davis said she gave herself ten days to wallow in self-pity and navigate her emotions.
“Then I’m like…I know exactly what I am. I know exactly what I’m worthy of and that was not my end, that was not going to take me out, and that is just another portion of my story,” said Davis.
Davis described herself as the queen of affirmations, often encouraging herself by reminding herself of all of her achievements. Some she mentioned were owning property, appearing on the news, being a part of people’s special days, cooking for the sheriff and mayor, being invited to the governor’s house and more.
“I like to say I like to inspire people by creating the life of my dreams because everything that I’m doing is things that I’ve dreamed of. My voice was meant to impact and inspire people,” said Davis.
Davis talked about her personal experience with food, often testing out new and unique flavors and ingredients. She aims to bring new culinary experiences to La Crosse that are inclusive of vegan and gluten-free options.
She shared her passion and love for other cultures’ food, including Mediterranean, Haitian, and Caribbean foods; she added she hopes to try Nigerian food in the future. Davis added that she intentionally tried to stray from the status quo of a typical African American meal as someone who loves a variety of food.
When asked what advice she would give to individuals with similar dreams as hers, Davis said, “Discover who you are, what you want and what your impact is on this world. Figure out what you’re passionate about, and figure out how it can impact and inspire other people. Then strive for the life that you deserve and take every day as a step.”
Regarding future goals, Davis said Mia’s Kitchen would be looking to expand to Madison and other parts of Wisconsin. She plans on expanding it as a family brand and turning it into a franchise.
“The kitchen is my soft spot, it’s my love language. I don’t have to get birthday gifts, the kitchen is literally my home, and so Mia’s Kitchen, I’ve always known it was going to flourish,” said Davis. “Mia’s Kitchen is just going to continue to strive, strive in La Crosse and strive all over Wisconsin.”
For more information, visit Davis’s website or Facebook page.
