Meet Miss Makinna

My name is Makinna Gooch and I live in Lebanon, Tennessee. I am 15 years old. From a very early age, I have enjoyed being in the kitchen. I spent the first year of my life at the pizza restaurants my parents owned. I grew up helping my daddy grill steaks or helping my Grandmama make blackberry jam and pecan pie. The very first official cake I ever made was for her birthday.

When I was 12 years old, I wanted to start baking cupcakes and cakes just about every day! Shortly after, we moved to Lebanon and my mom made a simple post on our neighborhood Facebook page as an advertisement for me to start my little bakery business. The orders started pouring in and it didn't take long for word to travel outside of the neighborhood to the surrounding communities. Miss Makinna's Kitchen was officially born! I have spent the last few years learning and growing my business by fulfilling hundreds of orders. I count it an honor that so many people have entrusted me to be a small part of their special life moments. 

I started my business so that one day I can use some of the money to go to culinary school and become a pastry chef. In the meantime, I have invested my money in my very first food trailer! Miss Makinna's "Mobile" Kitchen launched in June 2022 and has took off in the food truck industry.  

When I am not in the kitchen or on the food truck, you can find me curled up with a blanket and good book or learning and practicing the piano, ukulele, guitar, mandolin and fiddle. I am also active with my youth group at church and I enjoy hanging out with my friends and playing games with my little brother and sister.