Charmaine DaCosta is the owner of Crude Food, a catering company and producer of Limation Limeade. As a personal chef and caterer she has provided mouth watering concoctions for private and public events in the greater New York City area. Capitalizing on her company's reputation for quality nutrition, Crude Food added a craft services division that specializes in supplying the independent film category. In February 2014, DaCosta was tapped by Restaurant Associates to feature her culinary talents for over 200 people at a Fortune 500 company.
Now that the catering division of Crude Food is well under way, DaCosta is focused on giving lemonade some overdue competition. Her premium limeade, a favorite part of her Caribbean childhood, will introduce taste buds to a refreshing beverage called Limation in Spring 2014. Winner of the Harlem Business Alliance’s 5th Annual Business Plan Competition, DaCosta is on her way to making Limation a household name. The limeade brand features 3 delicious flavors, Original, Lavender and Passion Fruit, the hallmark of which is it’s all natural appeal with no preservatives, no added dyes or chemicals.
Charmaine started her professional life as a singer/songwriter and founding member of reggae girl-group Worl-A-Girl, a dancehall reggae group signed to Chaos/Columbia Records and then East/West Records label. After leaving the group, Charmaine enjoyed marginal success as an independent artist and label owner of Stoney Hill Music. In addition, Charmaine has had years of experience in the corporate sector working with fortune five hundred companies and multinational conglomerates in fashion and entertainment in key areas of operations and information technology. She has worked for nonprofits in directorial and administrative positions implementing programs, managing budgets and implementing systems.
Charmaine has taught for over 8 years as an adjunct professor of business in the subject areas of marketing, business planning and organizational behavior. She has also taught and directed an ESL program for 3 years.
A woman of diverse skill sets, DaCosta, who is an ordained pastor, is also an education/career coach and mentor to adults and teens.
Charmaine holds a BA and MA in English Literature from the City College of New York, a MBA in Media Management and a certificate in Culinary Arts.