Shawnae Dixon facts for kids

Shawnae Marie Dixon is an American professional chef, a person who cooks for a living. She is also a cookbook author and owns a business called "SayGraceNYC". Shawnae was born in Staten Island, New York in 1976. Today, many famous people around the world ask her to cook for them. She also appears on TV and radio shows as a guest chef. Her first book, With this Plate I Thee Wed..., was released in 2017.

Shawnae Dixon's Life and Career

Shawnae Marie Mosley McCombs was born in Staten Island, New York in 1976. She was the oldest of three children. Her father was in the United States Navy, so her family moved a lot when she was young. She started loving to cook when she lived in New Jersey's Burlington County.

When she was a kid, her father ran a youth basketball league. Shawnae noticed that the players and people watching often wanted food. So, she started making and selling snacks to them. This was her first step into the food business!

In 2004, she married Jason H Dixon Sr. They wanted to explore different foods to make mealtime fun for their family.

A big change happened in Shawnae's life in 2012 because of Hurricane Sandy. This huge storm caused a lot of damage and left many people without homes. The Dixon family was safe, but they lost their home for over a year. During this tough time, Shawnae found a new path. With a new baby, her husband suggested she stay home. Shawnae decided to start selling her homemade meals, just like she did at the basketball courts. Her special dishes, like macaroni and cheese, chicken, and seafood, quickly became very popular.

In 2014, she started her own small catering business called SayGrace. It grew very quickly! Because SayGrace was so successful, Shawnae was asked to show her holiday treats on Fox Network TV in Philadelphia. After that, SayGrace worked with the Food Network and cooked for many celebrities. Shawnae is now a private chef for many radio stations and famous people. She also helps her community in Staten Island by offering free cooking classes. In 2017, she received a special award from the Staten Island Councilwoman Debi Rose for her work in the community.

Shawnae Dixon's Education

Shawnae Dixon went to Audrey Cohen College and finished in 2003. She earned a degree in Human Services. She then continued her studies, getting a Master's degree in Public Affairs and Administration in 2006. In 2012, she completed another Master's degree in Special Education and Urban Studies.

Helping the Community

In 2012, Shawnae started "The Give Back Center." This group helps people in cities get the things they need to live better lives. It started with just three members and now has almost 100 people across the country. In 2013, Shawnae's company, SayGrace, organized a charity barbecue to help families who lost their homes in a fire. In 2016, she helped with a bake-off event. The money raised from the bake-off went to buy Christmas gifts for children who needed them.

Cooking Tips and Strategies

When Shawnae appears on TV cooking shows or writes her cookbooks, she creates meals that are easy for everyday families to make. She started her catering business, SayGrace, not just for famous people. She also wanted to teach everyone about kitchen safety and why eating organic food is good. Shawnae also shares important tips on how to use knives and other kitchen tools safely. She once shared a tip in a magazine: "Fire is the germ killer," meaning cooking food properly helps keep it safe.

Television Appearances

• Jack Thriller Presents (The Jack Thriller Show) (she appears often as a guest chef)
• The Today Show
• The Talk

Awards and Recognition

Awards and Nominations

• "The Golden Spoon" from Midwest Digest (in 2015 and 2016)
• "Cooking w/ Style Award" from GSA (in 2012)