Markus Bold reveals how becoming a chef saved him from homelessness

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Photo by A.R. Shaw for Steed Media

Markus Bold’s life had reached its lowest point. Bold found himself homeless and living in the infamous Skid Row section of downtown Los Angeles. But it was at his lowest point that he found the inspiration to work on his craft and change his life.


“I was homeless and one of the older guys on Skid Row knew that I was a chef,” Bold says. “I’ve always had the idea of wanting to do it, and it surfaced during a very down time in my life. I always wanted to [be a] caterer, so this older gentleman and I would sit up and talk at night about ideas of how we could market what I do to businesses and people who had more than what we had during that time. From there I came up with the name, ‘Markus Bold Catering’ and here we are right now.”


Bold soon began to develop plans to turn his dream into a reality. He went to the library and studied how to create a business and new ways to present catered food.

“You always have to leave room for growth with what you’re doing,” Bold says. “In mastering my craft until this point, I’ve taken everything slow. I always take a methodical approach to what I do. I understand that there is a lot to learn and I’m open to it. And with being open to it, there’s a concentration on it. I read books, watch videos, and take lessons from my grandmother, who was my biggest inspiration when it comes to this.”


Bold eventually was able to get Markus Bold Catering off the ground and soon found success. In 2014, his company catered the LaFemme Film Festival, which featured 600 guests. Bold earned honors as the youngest Black caterer to serve the festival. Bold’s approach to mastering his craft also earned him recognition as a Dutch Master™ influencer.

“This may sound generic, but if there’s something that you’re really passionate about, stick with it,” Bold says. “Make it your focus. Develop it and continue to evolve yourself. Be happy with what you did once you look back on it. I never want to impact people from an emotional standpoint. I always want to show people that no matter what you’re going through, there’s always a way. You just have to stay strong, make good decisions, and take care of yourself. The end is never there until you leave this Earth.”

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