Cleveland is a city of culture, resilience, and opportunity. At Engage! Cleveland, we’re passionate about amplifying what makes our city special—from its vibrant neighborhoods to its thriving professional community. We know that when we celebrate Cleveland, we build a reputation that draws in and keeps the next generation of changemakers. That’s why we’ve been highlighting local influencers who actively champion Cleveland—people using their platforms, passions, and voices to reshape the narrative and showcase all that makes this city exceptional. Each month, we shine a spotlight on an individual who inspires us, and this month’s feature is lifelong Clevelander Wanda Dammons.  

Wanda Dammons, also known as Chef Wanda, has called Cleveland home her whole life, and now she’s feeding the region with her catering business, Thyme to Eat. 

Sometimes your passions take you places you may not expect, and something you love as a hobby can turn into a career. That’s exactly what happened to Wanda Dammons. As early as middle school, Dammons was practicing her skills in the kitchen. “I started cooking in middle school because I didn’t want to wait for my parents to get home to get something to eat,” she said. “I always loved to cook, always had a passion for it. I loved to watch my mother and grandmother cook in the kitchen” 

Then, people started to notice her talent. “Everyone just enjoyed my cooking, and I found that that was a way that I can express my love to everyone.” Expressing her love for everyone turned out to be the basis of her catering business. After a friend with dietary restrictions shared her struggles finding vegetarian meals at events, Wanda wanted to help  the best way she knew how: through cooking. Thyme to Eat was born with the idea that event catering should have something for everybody. 

“From now on, whatever meat-eaters have, the vegetarians are going to have the same thing. And no, it’s not just going to be a baked potato. No, it’s not just going to be a salad, you’re going to have a meal just like the meat-eaters have.” 

Wanda never pictured herself as an entrepreneur at first, but credits the Cleveland community as a part of her success “I think Cleveland has a lot to offer for entrepreneurs. You just have to get out here and network, that’s my number one thing is to tell people to come outside and network because the city of Cleveland has so many organizations that are willing to help you.” Places like Cleveland Central Kitchen, Tri-C, North Union Farmers Market and more have all been a part of Wanda’s journey and she hopes to inspire the next generation of business owners in Cleveland. ” I count myself as a resourceful person, too, because somebody had to help me, So I’m definitely going to reach back now and help the next person” 

Beyond building a successful catering business, Wanda’s deep roots in Greater Cleveland continue to shape both her work and her personal life. 

With her culinary background, Wanda is drawn to Cleveland for the diverse food scene, and that’s just one of the things that makes the area feel like home “Cleveland feels like home because it is! Where else can you get a Romanburger, or Polish Boys!” says Dammons. “I typically spend a weekend in Cleveland going to a restaurant, exploring a museum or checking out local festivities! I love the Asian festival and Tremont Food Truck Festival.”  

After living in the Greater Cleveland area her whole life, Wanda is still learning new things about the city every day. “As I got older I learned that Cleveland is amazing when it comes to history! The first traffic electric light installed, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Millionaires Row on Euclid Avenue. Cleveland is continuing to make history 2016 NBA Championship, Movies made here, along with new construction on the Lakefront. It doesn’t get any better than this” she says.   

Follow @ChefWanda on social media and visit the Thyme to Eat website to learn more about her offerings, or catch one of her culinary demonstrations at Cuyahoga County Public Library branches later this year. 

 Authored by: Sarah McCord