A Gainesville native's food seasoning brand is on store shelves and expanding to more
Gainesville’s own “Miss Nola's Seasoning Blends” is building her brand in the food and grocery industry.
Quenella Clark launched "Miss Nola's" in July 2020. It is a seasoning blends company that sells butter sauces and fry batter and mixes. It is a seasoning blends company that sells butter sauces and fry batter and mixes. Its name comes from Clark being inspired by the New Orleans' cajun-style cuisine. New Orleans is known as "The NOLA," Clark said.
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Clark, 42, created her products while operating restaurant businesses in Gainesville.
“These unique seasonings, sauces and blends made the restaurant famous for the food that we served,” Clark said, adding that seafood was a food staple in her home.
Clark said she was taught how to cook crabs and different seafood meals by her sister, Keara Powers.
“She is doing what she desires to do,” Powers said. “Her work ethic is phenomenal. She works sun up to sun down. I am so proud of her as she continues to strive harder.
Clark is the mother of three - Jakeria, Jada and Jeremiah. She attended Eastside High School and graduated from Loften High School in 1998.
She was in Times Square in New York City last year as a guest chef on the filming of an episode of WONDERAMA TV show alongside Snoop Dog’s personal chef, Q-Bone, and Bernice King, a daughter of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, Clark said.
David Osmond of the Osmond family was the host, she said.
It was a big accomplishment for her to be featured on the show as a Gainesville native and an Black entrepreneur, Clark said.
Clark has owned and operated seafood restaurants for over seven years, including STM (Stop the Madness) Seafood that was located in a building in East Gainesville that now houses Hungry Howie's Pizza at 1040 E. University Ave., and Nola’s Cajun Po’ Boys & Seafood that was located at Meadowbrook Golf Course in northwest Gainesville.
Clark has been living in Orlando for the past three years, where she owns and operates her seasonings and sauce business.
“I stepped away from restaurants and kitchens to become a manufacturer of world class food products,” Clark said. “It has been a game changer for me. Now I get to travel around the country promoting my products and sharing my story with millions of people.”
Clark said she appreciates her marketing and social media managing team for their work in promoting the products online.
Colin Charles, "Miss Nola’s" business consultant for over six years, said Clark’s work ethic is one of the major reasons for her success.
“It takes a lot of work to get things going and she puts the work in,” Charles said. “Whenever there is a problem, I try to help and be there and be a positive supporter.”
Charles said he is proud of Clark’s success and hopes her story will encourage others to become business owners.
“This is a business woman from Gainesville who took hard blows and kept going,” Charles said. “I want people to know and say 'well done.'”
"Miss Nola's" products can be found on Youtube, TikTok, Instagram and Facebook gaining thousands of followers.
Her products can be purchased online at www.missnolas.com as well as through an online partnership with Walmart.
The products are also available in local markets throughout Florida.
In Gainesville, they can be found at Enson Market located at 3045 SW 34th St. and Dandy Market Store located at 1314 E. University Ave.
Miss Nola products are also in the Piggly Wiggly Supermarkets in Quincy and Tallahassee.
“When it’s your passion, go for it,” Clark said.
Clark wants others to know that being a successful entrepreneur is possible.
“I want to encourage people to go for their dreams,” Clark said. “I love what I do. I love interacting with people and making seasoning sauces. I am so grateful and blessed.”