Kurt E. Smith

Owner and Founder of Totally Vegetarian Catering and Veggie Chefs.

Kurt is a vegan chef that was raised as a vegetarian. His parents became vegetarians when they married in 1965. As a result they determined that their children would be strict
vegetarians. Kurt began creating and preparing vegetarian dishes at the age of eight under his mother's nutritional guidance. His mother would also invite guests into their home for nutritional counseling, and delicious vegan and vegetarian meals.

When Kurt went off to college, it was his first time away from home, so he decided to drop the vegetarian food and add meat to his diet. As a result of his decision, he began to experience various medical difficulties with his asthma, especially with his skin (diagnosed with eczema as an infant). Kurt developed chronic eczema and severe acne.
After college, he realized that his diet had taken his life in a different direction than accustomed to, he returned to a full fledged vegetarian diet, and is now a vegan.

Kurt began to study and research physical health pertaining to the food choices people make for themselves. Through his research, he discoverd that food plays a major aspect in everyones daily life. As a result he started Totally Vegetarian Catering Inc. in 1999.
When he started his company, he already knew how to prepare vegan and vegetarian cuisine for meat eaters to enjoy. After his first year in business, clients were very pleased with him preparing vegan crab cakes made from tofu, and vegan chops made from seitan. Kurt then knew that he was going to represent for the vegans and vegetarians of the world, to let other people know that everyone can eat healthy and enjoy it.

Kurt has had the opportunity to travel across the country cooking for celebrity clients such as John Robbins (The heir to Baskin and Robbins, 31 Flavors Ice Cream chain, environmentalist, and author of the best selling food novel "Diet For A New America"),
Singer-actress Erykah Badu, singer songwriter Rochell Ferrell, middle-weight boxing champion of the world Bernard Hopkins, and PETA organization along with the Grammy award winning musical band "The Roots". As well as nationally, locally Kurt has cooked for the Hon. John F. Street (The former Mayor of Phila.), State Senator Vincent Hughes (Pa State Senate ), and Kenny Gamble (A recipient of the "Essence Life Time Achievement Award", and President of Philadelphia International Records). Kurt has been featured on various radio talk shows (Radio One ) in Philadelphia, and in the "Philadelphia Tribune" news paper, discussing the benefits of healthy eating.

In 2006 Kurt was featured as a vegan chef in the Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival sharing the cooking stage with Christina Pirello (Host of TV series "Christina Cooks"),
and Cat Cora (Celebrity chef from "Iron Chef America" ).

Since then Kurt has appeared on NBC TV ("The 10 Live Show" ), worked with Clifton Davis actor/songwriter for the Jackson Five 1971 hit song "Never Can Say Goodbye", and has cooked for the superintendent of the Philadelphia School District.

Kurt is a member of the "North American Vegetarian Society", the "Raw Food Support"
organization of Philadelphia, and is an alumni of CATERSOURCE (an organization consisting of caters from around the United States).

Under the umbrella of Totally Vegetarian Inc. Kurt runs Veggie Chefs, another company he
started, where the company sends vegan chefs out to a clients home to prepare meals.
With Totally Vegetarian Catering and Veggie Chefs, Kurt fuses his personality, along with decor themes for his clients, such as Hawaiian Luau's,to Christmas Wonderlands, with strategic event planning. Kurt will be releasing his first cook book,and opening a restaurant in the future.