From Family Kitchen to Chef’s Table: The Journey of Chef Lafon Motley
For Chef Lafon Motley, food has always been more than a profession; it's been a therapeutic release and even more, the heartbeat of her family. Growing up in a bustling household with six siblings, she was right in the middle of it all, surrounded by the sounds, smells, and laughter of a busy kitchen. Whether it was her father filling a pot to the brim with hearty stew (or creating the sage turkey stuffed shells) or her mother serving up comforting chicken and dumplings, meals were never just about eating, they were about belonging.
Even as a little girl, Lafon gravitated toward the kitchen. If her grandmother needed help, she was there cooking at her side. Family staples like spaghetti and fried chicken became the backdrop of her earliest memories, anchoring her love for food in love for those around her.
By middle school, she knew that food was her calling. What began as a creative and therapeutic outlet became a vocation, a sanctuary where she could lose herself in the craft and emerge with something beautiful and nourishing.
Chef Motley formalized her passion at IUP Culinary Academy in Punxsutawney, PA, where she trained in classical techniques and hospitality fundamentals. Upon graduating, she headed south to the prestigious Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, FL, an elite culinary environment that expanded her view of what food could be.
There, she trained under renowned chefs, perfected the details of fine-dining service, and even cooked for a few celebrities, earning high praise for her creativity and precision. Yet, even amid the beauty of Key Largo, home kept calling.
Family had always been her anchor, and she knew her next chapter belonged closer to them.
Back in Philadelphia, Chef Motley dove into the city’s vibrant food scene, working across restaurants and catering kitchens that matched her energy and ambition. Her culinary identity took shape at Grand Lux Café, where she mastered every station and earned professional training as a Saucier. She then brought that precision and flair to the Sheraton, crafting high-end banquet presentations and leading event-service teams.
It was during this period that she began mentoring others, sharing her knowledge with rising cooks and modeling the same generosity she’d learned from her own family.
Eventually, Chef Motley launched her own catering business from home, a five-year adventure that remains one of the highlights of her career. With her mother helping to send out menus and her siblings cheering her on, she crafted hundreds of meals each week for construction crews, local offices, and family gatherings. “The house was always cooking,” she laughs. “We filled every fridge we could find.”
Her menus were never static; she thrived on innovation, rarely repeating a dish and always experimenting with flavor. That creative independence and the joy of feeding people who quickly became friends defined those years and strengthened her entrepreneurial spirit.
At the Heart of Tasty Table Catering
Today, as Executive Chef at Tasty Table Catering in the Greater Philadelphia and Main Line area, Chef Motley blends artistry with leadership. She’s honed her managerial skills, and built a collaborative kitchen culture that brings out the best in every team member.
Family, Always
Through every chapter, family remains her compass. Friday fish fries, Sunday feasts, and holiday dessert competitions are still part of her rhythm. Cooking is rarely solitary, it’s an experience shared with her son, nieces, nephews, and siblings. “Food connects everything,” she says.
From her childhood kitchen to the chef’s table, Chef Motley’s journey is a story of passion, perseverance, and heart; proof that cooking begins with love and ends in joy.
