Q&A with Audrey George

Residence: Macon

Occupation: Chef, caterer, pastor

Q: You've become something of a personality, a celebrity, through the years. How's that happened?

A: It's surprising to me I've become well known at all. I'm really a loner and usually try to just blend in, but I guess I'm known in certain circles in Warner Robins and Middle Georgia. I do have a personality. I enjoy laughing and talking with people. I just have fun and be myself.

Q: People may not even know you as Audrey George. What would most people know you as?

A: Chef Audrey.

Q: How'd you get to Middle Georgia?

A: I'm originally from Birmingham, Alabama, but moved here from north Georgia in 2000. I had a European-style bistro and bakery in north Georgia. My pastor there moved here and suggested I come down. I visited a number of times, liked it and finally decided it was the place I should be.

Q: And you opened a restaurant?

A: My plan was to open a restaurant but that didn't happen until later. I started to but it ran into difficulties. I went to work for Bell South for a while, regrouped, and then opened my place in Warner Robins.

Q: When was that?

A: I opened my first place here in 2002 and of course I was catering. I've pretty much catered no matter what else I've done and I've been involved in event planning. It's been through restaurants, catering and speaking that I've gotten to know so many people. I'm always Chef Audrey to them. I've done quite a few things here.

Q: I know you were trained and did things from being a personal trainer to a licensed low voltage electrician, and that's quite a range, but you've always had the food and entertaining going. How has that all worked?

A: Well I learned about personal training because I needed a trainer. I'm a cancer survivor from when I was 19. I was completely healed through surgery but ended up with a sluggish thyroid. I began to gain weight and became the short fat woman in the room. In 2009, my sister had a heart attack and died. That really woke me up and I started taking my weight seriously. Doctors are surprised how healthy I am and how good my numbers are, but I started taking my weight and health seriously.

Q: As an event planner, what's the biggest thing you've done?

A: There are all sorts of events and I planned and cooked for, events large and small, from small family gatherings to large church and business events. But I guess the biggest event was bringing Tony Evans and Nick Vujicic here for an evening in 2009. Of course Dr. Evans is a pastor and Nick is an Australian Christian evangelist and motivational speaker born without all four limbs.

Q: What takes your time now?

A: Since 2012 I've been on staff at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Macon.

Q: So that takes the biggest chunk of your time, but do you still cater?

A: When the opportunity comes along. I still cook, do events and other things. I'm still Chef Audrey after 30 years, but now I don't have a restaurant and am more selective about what I do.

Q: With your background, what's your best tip about cooking and entertaining for the Christmas season?

A: Number one: relax. Don't try to be perfect. People who come to your dinner or event are coming to relax, have fun and enjoy some food. Don't be such a perfectionist they can't have fun. Sure, work hard and get things ready and do a good job at it, but then relax and enjoy. And also, for goodness sake, don't try out that new recipe for the first time at a special occasion. You have to get used to a recipe and make it your own. Play with it. Get it right. There're so many ways to mess up when you try something new.

Q: Your being a speaker came up, but you're also a special kind of speaker. What's that?

A: I'm a comedian. People always said I could be funny. I laugh a lot. I became friends with Jill Elliott without knowing she was such a well-known professional comedian and had opened for people like Jeff Foxworthy. She decided I was funny and said I needed to do comedy and she'd mentor me. Well, I'm not stupid, she offered so I said OK. I've been blessed to work with her -- I've been blessed to do so many things I love and have fun at it. The perk is I get paid.

Answers may have been edited for length and clarity. Compiled by Michael W. Pannell. Contact him at mwpannell@gmail.com.

This story was originally published December 1, 2015 at 6:45 PM with the headline "Q&A with Audrey George ."