Photo belongs Julie Heathcote of Sunflower Chef Catering

October is known as National Women’s Small Business Month and a local business in Dallas County describes the inspiration behind her shop.

Sunflower Chef Catering, located in Adel, is a culinary business that will assist with serving food as well as offer custom decor to an event. Owner Julie Heathcote tells Raccoon Valley Radio that she opened in 2014, and had a passion to serve other people plus she loves the creative freedom in the culinary world. Heathcote admits that Sunflower Chef Catering is largely influenced by her mom, who passed away in 2006.

“She was a bright light in my world. She loved sunflowers, so that’s where the name Sunflower Chef Catering comes from, just to honor her, and she also was good with entertaining friends and family when we’d have them over. She was a really good cook, and so I kind of honed in on my skills by going to culinary school, (and) learning some of those skills from her.”

Heathcote shares that Sunflower Chef Catering was voted top three for the Community Choice Award and was recognized with the Des Moines People’s Choice Awards for the last three years.