Queen Precious-Jewel Zabriskie is a chef, entrepreneur, and spice purveyor who recently participated in Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars, a new reality show that searches for the next great food and drink industry innovator.
She is the founder, CEO, executive chef, and spice purveyor at Indulgent Essential Spices, a company that aims to elevate your palate and reintroduce you to flavor with quality ingredients and outstanding products.
She was one of the 15 culinary entrepreneurs who took on the business challenges devised by Gordon Ramsay in hopes of convincing him to make a personal investment of $250,000 in their business and become a partner in their enterprise.
Queen Precious-Jewel Zabriskie: From The Bronx to Durham
Zabriskie grew up in The Bronx, NY, where she developed her unique palate and passion for cooking.
She learned from her grandmother how to make dishes from scratch using fresh herbs and spices.
She joined the military after high school and served for eight years.
Zabriskie met her wife and business partner Jacqueline “Jay” White while working as a supervisor in corporate America.
They started Indulge Catering LLC in 2014 after several supervisors paid Zabriskie to cook for their teams and later launched Indulgent Essential Spices in 2020 to share their love of flavor with the world.
Queen Precious-Jewel Zabriskie’s achievements and awards
Zabriskie has achieved many accomplishments and awards for her catering and spice businesses.
She has been named Best Full-Service Caterer of 2019-2022 by Durham Magazine’s Readers Choice Awards.
She has created healthy and flavorful dishes using fresh ingredients from local vendors for various clients, including universities, corporations, events, and private chef experiences.
Zabriskie has also developed a line of spice blends, sauces, marinades, and rubs that are vegan-friendly, gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, and low-sodium.
Some of her signature products include Curry Me Crazy Sauce, Queen’s Jerk Marinade, and Queen’s Cajun Rub.
Queen Precious-Jewel Zabriskie eliminated from Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars season 1 episode 5
Zabriskie was eliminated in the fifth episode of Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars after failing to impress Gordon Ramsay and the guest judges with her business pitch and product presentation.
She had to create a sauce using her spice blend and sell it to customers at a farmers market.
She chose to make her Curry Me Crazy Sauce using her Queen’s Curry Blend.
However, she struggled with the consistency and flavor of her sauce, as well as the branding and packaging of her product. She received negative feedback from Gordon Ramsay, who said her sauce was too watery and bland, and from the guest judges, who said her product lacked identity and appeal.
She reacted to being eliminated with grace and gratitude, saying that she learned a lot from the experience and that she was proud of herself.
