COAL GROVE — Wanting to add a little spice to the food offerings in the Tri-State, Heidi Clark is opening a service called the Spice of Life Catering in Coal Grove.

Her reason for starting her own catering business is simple.

“Passion,” she said, with a laugh. “I’ve always been a people-pleaser and what better way to please people than with food they enjoy.”

Clark said her passion for food started at a young age. She grew up on her family’s farm and learned to cook with what they raised.

“So I’ve always had fresh produce to work with, fresh berries and all that,” she said. She was also a member of 4-H and did a lot of food projects even go to the state fair with some of her entries.

“I didn’t win but at least I went to the state fair,” she said. In college, she got a degree in family consumer sciences.

“On campus, my internship was in catering,” she said. “So that’s where I got my start and I just loved it.”

Spice of Life Catering and Events will be opening for business in Coal Grove within a couple of weeks. Right now, she is going through the process of inspections by the state to get all the proper permits and licenses.

“I will have a kitchen and an office to meet with people, but it won’t really be a store front,” Clark explained. Appointments will be scheduled so she has time to work on her creations. “I am going to be there, but my number one priority is to be a mother and a wife.”

While her menu will vary by event, she does have some specialties.

“It’s hard to say what I’ll serve, it depends what people want,” Clark said. “I do anything from baked steak to prime rib. I have a lot of unique hor d’oeuvres, unique appetizers. I want my food to be appealing to the eyes and to the taste.”

For a sample menu, go to spiceoflifecateringandevents.com.

Part of the business will be planning the event if the customers want her to.

“I will offer event design, floral design, I can take care of all rentals, tents, port-a-potties, magicians, DJs,” she said. “I can do the whole event.”

Last year, Clark went to the national catering convention, Catersource, in Las Vegas.

“The main thing I learned is that most people just want to go to one person and have them coordinate it all,” she said. “I can work with whatever they need.”

Clark will be at the WKEE Bridal Extravaganza, which will be at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena on Jan. 13. To contact Clark, call (740) 442-1674.