Supporting our community’s Black-owned businesses is more important than ever. Check out this list of local Black female chefs, restaurant owners, and food entrepreneurs that you should absolutely know (and support) right now.
Candace Boyd Wylie, The FoodLoveTog
Candace is the Chief Foodie and Creative Director of The FoodLoveTog, LLC. FoodLoveTog, LLC is a food and recipe site, cooking school, and spice brand where food and creativity collide. She is passionate about making delicious meals, food access, and getting people comfortable in the kitchen. She has been in the kitchen for over 20 years, making meals that are fun, flavorful, and feisty.
Shop Candace’s signature seasoning blends. Follow her on Instagram and check out her website.
Tannoria Askew, Tannoria’s Table
Tanorria Askew of Tanorria’s Table is a passionate home cook turned Chef. She is the proud owner of Tanorria’s Table where she works as a personal chef and tv personality as well as owner of Treats by Tanorria, a specialty cake mix company. Tannoria was a 2016 contestant on MasterChef, hosted by Gordon Ramsey, and walked away as the 4th best home cook in America. Tannoria is heavily involved in her community, including volunteering with Slow Food Indy, Food 4 Souls, and Second Helpings.
Check out all of Tannoria’s services, including weekly meal prep, monthly freezer meals, and cooking lessons. You can also visit her online store and follow her on Instagram.
Oya Woodruff, The TRAP
Chef Oya Woodruff is the owner of The Trap Seafood. Established in 2016 as a seafood delivery service, the Trap, an acronym for actions geared Toward Restoring food Access to the People, has since blossomed into a storefront restaurant that is a complete experience to visit. A formula of knowledge, entrepreneurship, moxie, TrapButtah, and Young Bae seasoning by FoodLoveTog birthed a seafood empire.
Check out The TRAP’s menu and weekly specials. You can also order some of Chef Oya’s TRAP Buttah sauces, chowder, and even TRAP@Home lobster roll in her shop. Make sure you follow Chef Oya and The TRAP on Instagram.
Que Wimberly, The Missing Brick
Que Wimberly is the owner and CEO of The Missing Brick, a 21-and-over pizza joint on the northeast side of Indianapolis. Wimberly collaborates with other Indianapolis restaurants, Oya Woodruff’s The TRAP and Hank’s Smoked Briskets, to create a unique menu, like their The Trap Pizza,’ which features Chef Oya’s ‘OG Trap Buttah’ and seafood boil, and ‘The Woodstock Pizza’ featuring Hank’s BBQ rib tips.
You can follow Que and The Missing Brick on Instagram. You can check out their menu and even order online.
Felicia Grady, Plate It Up Catering
Felicia Grady graduated from the Chef Academy in 2012 and started Plate It Up Catering shortly afterward. While also building a business and brand, she was given the opportunity to teach at Second Helpings as a culinary instructor. She is a Serve Safe Proctor and a Proud Member of the American Culinary Federation. She provides personal chef services for a variety of occasions and she specializes in gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian cuisine.
You can connect with Plate It Up Catering on Facebook. Be sure to also check out their menu and catering options on their website.
Flavor By Faith
Flavor By Faith offers meals to tantalize and delight your taste buds while promoting a healthy lifestyle so many of us crave. Their meals are free of fillers, high in protein, and include all-natural ingredients. They offer hormone- and GMO-free meals that are delicious as well as low carbohydrates, low sodium, and low glycemic index. The best part is that it is delivered right to your doorstep. Their packaging is entirely BPA free.
Make sure you check out their website for information on ordering, catering, and courses. You can also connect with them on Facebook and Instagram.
Mrs. Murry, Mrs. Murry’s Naturals
The husband and wife team at Mrs. Murry’s Naturals have been living plant-based for six years. Mrs. Murry has been in the culinary field since 2012 and has trained under eight different chefs. Mr. Bear is a self-taught pastry superstar. Each week Mrs. Murry works hand-in-hand with trusted farmers and artisans to craft extraordinary, healthy plant-based meals that are delivered to your pick up location.
Head to their website to shop for their products! You can also connect with them on Facebook.
Erica Bryant, The Healthy Food Cafe
Erica Bryant is the owner and founder of The Healthy Food Café, The Healthy Food Truck, and BeetBox Eatery. Erica began her career in the restaurant industry six years ago with a meal prepping service. Since then, she has added the food truck, cafe, and even the 24/7 smart fridge express, BeetBox Eatery. The Healthy Food Cafe offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner, along with snacks, healthy desserts from our bakery, smoothies, juices, specialty coffees, and more.
Make sure to check out the food truck, cafe, and eatery. You can also connect with The Healthy Food Cafe on Facebook and Instagram.
Tia Harrison, Chef Tia & Co.
Chef Tia Harrison has been in the food service industry for over 20 years, her background includes casual and fine dining. She attended Ivy Tech for Culinary Arts and has been cooking professionally since 2008. Chef Tia & Co is an independently owned and operated restaurant and specializes in Cajun, Creole, and Soul cuisine, offering full-service dine-in or carry-out.
Check out Chef Tia & Co.’s website for a full menu and to order online. You can also connect with Chef Tia & Co. on Facebook and Instagram.
Whitney Barnett, CIBO Catering & Events
Whitney has been in the foodservice industry for many years, but three years ago struck out on her own to create CIBO Catering & Events to share her passion for Soul Food and Italian cuisine. She is also the co-owner of the blog, Positive Foodie Vibes, where she showcases her own recipes, travels, and favorite lifestyle and food products.
Head to CIBO’s website to check out their catering, event planning, and menu planning. You can also check out Whitney’s blog, Positive Foodie Vibes. You can connect with White on Facebook and Instagram.
Tawana Gulley, Healthy Soul Meal Prep & Catering
Tawana’s mother and aunts taught her to cook with her heart and soul, and that’s the kind of passion she brings to her business, Healthy Soul Meal Prep and Catering. Her goal is to provide her customers with a meal that nourishes both the body and soul. Tawana offers meal preparation and catering options specially created to fit your needs and lifestyle.
You can contact Tawana through her website, or connect with her on Facebook.
Ricca Macklin, Your Box Catering
Your Box Catering was started in June 2015 in Shelbyville, Indiana by Chef and Owner Ricca Macklin. Ricca is a chef with years of experience working in restaurants and as a caterer both in Indiana and abroad. Your Box Catering can serve groups from large to small with the foods made fresh from their 90% scratch kitchen. Though they operate out of Shelbyville, they deliver to all of central Indiana.
You can order catering from the Your Box Catering website. You can connect with Your Box Catering on Facebook and with Ricca on Instagram.
