THE 2nd COOLEST THING TO HAPPEN TO ME IN MY LIFE. BETTER THEN ANY AWARD WE HAVE WON. thanks Penny, your Chef/friend Tony Anthony Ellerson Juniors career was not at all like he expected. Anthony went far without wearing a suit and tie or drawing legal documents and wills. Anthony made his own destiny. Anthony was born in 1977 in St. Louis around the Central West End. When Anthony was a kid he played sports with his dad, Anthony Senior. Was it sports that made them close or was it going to iHop every Sunday after church and Steak and Shake on Wednesdays? Either way, his dad ended up being his hero. Anthony also loved to play tennis. He grew up loving it as a teen, often playing tennis at the Dwight Davis tennis center in that area. The Central West End made a lot of great memories for Anthony. Anthonys teen idols were Michael Jordan and Andre Agassi right next to his loving father. Anthony was always great with numbers, so math was his overall best subject in school. In sixth, seventh and eighth grade Mrs. Wi lliams was one of the best math and science teacher Anthony could have. She ended up being very influential in Anthony s life. Anthony s dad may be his hero, but he admires his mother for being a mom to him and his grandmother for raising children on her own. His parents taught Anthony an important lesson that made him who he is today . That lesson was about hard work and pride for what you are doing. He also has two older brothers. Anthony noticed discrimination around him, but was never a victim himself. He always believed that everybody deserves common courtesy and thinks that is something someone should stand up for. Politically, he admires the two great presidents, John Kennedy and Bill Clinton. During his life, the most significant event that ever happened to him in his opinion was having a minority president. Entering Meramac college, Anthony wanted to be lawyer and was going to major in political science, but then Anthony started working in restaurants and it changed his entire career. His first job was St. Louis Bread Company and then another restaurant and another. Anthony was happy to start working as a lawyer, but when he started working at restaurants, another door started to open. At that time, Anthony realized his destiny. Anthony loved working in restaurants and that inspired him to do something different. Even though he did not finish college or get a degree, Anthony had different, new success: His very own restaurant. In 2012 he opened a Cajun food restaurant with loads of variety, that pretty much had everything, except a kitchen sink, and that is what he named it. One of the items on the menu is IDK (I Dont Know) if you dont know what you want to eat. I personally think that is the greatest idea ever. The hardest thing about running a business is that so many people are depending on you, the pressure is on, he said. Their starting location was on DeBaliviere Boulevard. Even though they were in a small neighborhood in a small pace, it was always packed and delicious. The business was going great. Every body loved it. The Kitchen Sink got rave reviews. The Riverfront Times made the com fritters one of the 100 dishes you have to eat right now. The St. Louis Post Dispatch said The Kitchen Sink is an Alternative for dingy diners. The list of great reviews is endless. Business was going so good they had to move to a bigger space on Union Street in 2013. Now instead of tennis he works 7 days a week and walks his dog for fun. He also has 7- year-old son to take care of. Doing this interview made me think about my career. Ive always wanted to be different things when I grew up. When I was 4, I wanted to be an actor. When I was 5, I wanted to be an astronaut. When I was 6, I wanted to be an engineer. When I was 8, I wanted to be a vet. Yet, I am still not sure what I would like to be when I grow up. This interview has made me realize that I should try more things. If Anthony never worked at a local Bread Company he would have never created my favorite restaurant. This has also made me realize that something that I love will come up if I am adventurous and try new things. I could be a magician for all that I know. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Ellerson for what he has taught me, thank you! -by Penny Peck, March 28, 2014 3rct Place, Kennard CJA Black History Month Writing Contest
Posted on: Tue, 29 Apr 2014 03:37:01 +0000
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