Born in Oakland, California, I moved to New York’s Capital District at age 2. Raised by a single mother until age eight, my stepfather William VanEvera played a significant role in my upbringing. I enjoyed a typical 1970s and 1980s childhood, filled with sports and a passion for cooking and baking.
At 14, I got my first job at Friendly’s Ice Cream Restaurant, which sparked my love for working in the kitchen. By 16, I was at Alfred’s Bakery in Rotterdam, NY, learning from Master Baker Alfred Gnidowski while completing my Culinary School degree in Baking and Pastry Arts.
In 1991, I began my professional career at the Ritz Carlton Hotel Company in West Palm Beach, Florida, advancing to Assistant Pastry Chef by 1993 and Executive Pastry Chef by 1994. A career move led me to Windsor Club in Vero Beach and then to The Walt Disney Company.
In 1999, I became the Personal Private Chef for Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy Jacobs, spending summers in Buffalo, NY, and winters in Wellington, FL, where I met my wife Leigh. We married in 2002 and welcomed our daughter, Olivia Rae Ouimet, in 2005.
Moving to Buford, GA, in 2006, I worked with Whole Foods Market until 2014, during which time our son Brayden was born in 2010. However, tragedy struck when Olivia passed away in 2014 after battling Aplastic Anemia.
Driven by Olivia’s memory and a desire to give back, I opened Main St Deli in 2018. We offer homemade soups, hearth bread, deli meats, and fresh baked goods daily, along with catering services. Despite the challenges, we take pride in serving consistently delicious food with love and dedication.