Contact Food Business Graduates

This list contains a handful of our Food Business Pathways Graduates that have started their very own successful businesses. Provided is their contact information as well as a small summary of what they make and sell. If you have any questions regarding a graduate’s business, feel free to contact them directly.

Baked Goods

A Cake Baked in Brooklyn

Location: Brooklyn, Red Hook
Type of Business: Catering
Development Name: Red Hook West
Website: http://www.acakebakedinbrooklyn.com
Name: Luquana McGriff
Phone: 347-746-5144
Email: info@acakebakedinbrooklyn.com
Description:
A Cake Baked in Brooklyn is an award-winning boutique dessert catering company that creates stylish, personalized, and delicious desserts for all of your events. Using the time-tested family-recipes she learned as a child and all natural ingredients, Luquana makes cakes, cupcakes, cookies and cake pops to order. Depending on the season or the theme of your event, she can create anything you and she can dream up together from Character Cakes to Dessert Tables!
What They Sell: Cakes, Cupcakes, Cookies, Cakepops, and Chocolate covered Oreos/apples/Rice Treats
Social Media:
Facebook: @acakebakedinbrooklyn

Halety Sweetz

Location: Queens, Jamaica
Type of Business: Bakery
Development Name: South Jamaica I
Website: http://www.haletysweetzllc.com
Name: Teresa Hogan
Phone: (929) 257-5711
Email: thogan2650@yahoo.com
Description: Halety Sweetz, LLC is a gluten free, healthier option to snacking. We specialize in low glycemic index, low salt, high protein and fiber snacks.
What They Sell: Cookies, cake, brownies.
Social Media:
Facebook: @ Halety Sweetz, LLC

Harlem Cakery LLC

Location: Manhattan, Harlem
Type of Business: Bakery
Development Name: Frederick E. Samuel Apts.
Website: http://www.harlemcakery.com
Name: Jonte Ouattara
Phone: C: (646) 915-5198
Email: Harlemcakery@gmail.com
Description:
Harlem Cakery is a custom design cake shop. We also specialize in naked cake loaves (carrot, hummingbird, chocolate zucchini and lemon Blueberry)
What They Sell: Harlem Cakery offers cakes (traditional and custom) cupcakes, push pops, chocolate dipped ores and strawberries and cake pops.
Social Media:
Instagram: @harlem_cakery_llc

Lorraine's Daughter

NYC's Best Dressed Cupcakes

Location: Bronx, Mott Haven
Type of Business: Bakery
Development Name: Patterson
Website: http://www.nycsbestdressedcupcakes.com
Name: Joann Poe
Phone: (917) 733-4077
Email: torypoe@aol.com
Description:
NYC’s Best Dressed Cupcakes makes gourmet custom decorated cupcakes for all occasions. Their specialty is alcohol infused cupcakes. They also sell custom cakes, cupcakes, pies, chocolate covered strawberries, chocolate lollipops, cake-pops, and cookies for all occasions.
What They Sell: Baked Goods
Social Media:
Instagram:@nycsbestdressedcupcakes or @ joanncakes
Twitter: @joanncakes
Facebook: @ NYC’s Best Dressed Cupcakes LLC

Oh Soo Sweet Custom Cakes, LLC

Location: Manhattan, East Harlem
Type of Business: Catering
Development Name: Clinton
Website: https://app.thefoodcorridor.com/listings/2176-oh-soo-sweet-custom-cakes-llc
Name: Shaneka Dennis
Email: ohsosweet_@hotmail.com
Description: Oh Soo Sweet Custom Cakes, LLC creates custom decorated cakes, cupcakes and other sweet treats for all occasions.
What They Sell: Baked Goods (cupcakes, cakes, deserts)
Social Media:
Instagram: @nikkid720

Ritta’s Treats, LLC

Location: Brooklyn, Williamsburg
Type of Business: Catering
Development Name: Cooper Park
Website:
Name: Shyritta Conley
Phone: C: (347) 479-9438 B: (929) 265-1733
Email: sconley679@aol.com
Description: They are an affordable pork-free treat making company based in Brooklyn. They aim to take the ordinary and turn it into extraordinary.
What They Sell: Baked Goods (cupcakes, cakes, deserts)
Social Media:
Facebook: @RittasTreats

Taylor Made Creations for All Occasions, Inc.

Location: Bronx, Castle Hill
Type of Business: Catering
Development Name: Castle Hill
Name: Jaynine Taylor
Phone: C: (646) 228-6088
Email: cakesrus1@hotmail.com
Description: Taylor Made Creations Inc. prepares homemade and specialized (healthy) goodness. They’ll satisfy your confectionery and nutritious needs.
What They Sell: Baked Goods (cupcakes, cakes, deserts)
Social Media:
Facebook: @ JaynineTaylorMadeCreations

Yulonda’s Edible Sensations

Location: Bronx, Throggs Neck
Type of Business: Catering
Development Name: Throggs Neck
Website: http://www.yesdesserts.nyc/store/c1/Featured_Products.html
Name: Yulonda Ruiz
Phone: 917-602-1364
Email: events@yesdesserts.nyc
Description:
Yulonda’s Edible Sensations is a Southern-Latin Artisan dessert catering company. Y.E.S. specializes in a cohesive marriage of traditional Southern-Latin flavors and ingredients, which creates delicious treats to tickle the customer’s palate. They produce flavorful desserts, which results in warm and inviting memories of childhood. It is comfort and love in every bite. Just like mom or grandma use to make. So take a bite and enjoy a sweet memory. Y.E.S., there is a dessert for everyone.
What They Sell: Baked Goods (cupcakes, cakes, deserts)
Social Media:
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/yulondas-edible-sensations-new-york-2
Facebook: @yulondasediblesensations

Food

Big Daddi Smoke House

Location: Manhattan, East Village
Type of Business: Catering
Development Name: Wald
Name: Stephen Johnson
Phone: (212) 256-1339
Email: bigdaddisj@hotmail.com
Description:
Big Daddi’s Smoke House started 15 years ago as a hobby and a love for food that was shared between family and friends, but this hobby would soon lead to a much greater idea. Since friends and family loved the food so much it was time to see if a broader audience would have the same reaction, and luckily for Stephen Johnson they did! With Southern-style ribs good enough to make your mouth water, seafood infused with soul, and an array of side dishes to fall in love with, BDSH is the Southern-style meal you didn’t know you were missing! So come check out Big Daddi’s as they explore the city of New York at various street fairs, but if you can’t wait until then and need them all to yourself they can cater your next event! Big Daddi’s Smoke House: It’s Rib-a-licious!
What They Sell: Smoked bbq & soulful sides
Social Media:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Bigdaddismokehouse/

Chef Sherri's Catering LLC

Location: Brooklyn, Coney Island
Type of Business: Catering
Development Name: Coney Island I Sites 4 and 5
Website: http://chefsherriscatering.wixsite.com/cooks
Name: Sherri Royes
Phone: (347) 435-6446
Email: chefsherricooks@gmail.com
Description:
Chef Sherri’s Catering is a catering service that provides soul food as well as fusion cuisine. The food that we provide doesn’t only look and taste good; it is also good for you. Our food is also packed with nutrients from an array of herb and spices. We cater small events such as private dinners and girls’ night, as well as large events including weddings and baby showers.
What They Sell: Soul food as well as fusion cuisine.
Social Media:
Facebook: @chefsherriscatering

Clara & Isabell’s Catering, LLC

Location: Manhattan, East Harlem
Type of Business: Catering
Development Name: East River
Name: Lisa Bobbitt
Phone: C: (347) 254-0802
Email: ClaraIsabellscateringllc@gmail.com
Description: Clara & Isabell Catering LLC is an authentic soul food experience with traces of Caribbean roots within our dishes. We use spices, herbs, and seasonings from Jamaica, St Thomas, Barbados, and New Orleans that combine our signature soul food with distinctive Caribbean flavor. We take great pride in our services and dishes as well as our delicious dessert options.
What They Sell: Soul food

Gifted Hands Catering, LLC

Location: Manhattan, Harlem
Type of Business: Catering
Development Name: NYCHA Section 8
Website: www.chefdpalmer.com/
Name: Dianna Palmer
Phone: (516) 847-5711
Email: ghcatering1@yahoo.com
Description:
Gifted Hands Catering is a boutique catering company specializing in Caribbean-Soul fusion serving the entire NY-NJ-Tristate area. Their passion is food and wellness. They use the freshest organic grown products and herbs, and prepare all that they make with wellness and love in mind. Their prices are reasonable and their goal is to always keep their clients happy.
What They Sell: Caribbean and soul food
Social Media: Facebook:@GiftedHandsCateringLLC

HALFMOON7, LLC

Location: Brooklyn, Bushwick
Type of Business:
Development Name: Bushwick
Name: Theda Clay
Phone: C: (347) 230-2176
Email: tclay777@gmail.com halfmoontc7@gmail.com
Description: HALFMOON7, LLC offers Southern soul food with African, Caribbean, and Latin influences.
What They Sell: Southern soul food with African, Caribbean and Latin influence

I’m Victoriouz Creationz

La Charca

Location: Manhattan, Lower East Side
Type of Business: Catering
Development Name: Vladeck II
Name: Catherine Santiago
Phone: (646) 428-4710
Email: mscsantiago@aol.com
Description:
La Charca is a family business currently working out of the commercial kitchen Entrepreneur Space, located in Queens, NY. They have sold meals as a vendor at the Lower East Side Avenue C Heritage Loisaida Festival and are looking forward to servicing other food festivals. They emphasize preparing their delicious meals with only the freshest seasonal ingredients of the old Puerto Rican countryside, as well as cooking based on traditional “Comidas Criollas” as it was taught to Catherine Santiago, the founder, by her family back on the island. Living in those wonderful memories, La Charca brings to you delicious meals made with love.
It is said with truth… a good meal leaves the heart happy and the stomach full.
What They Sell:
Appetizers – Home style Empanada of your choice – Lasagna, Seafood, Chicken, Beef, Tripleta and more Allcapurrias, Cod Fritters, Stuffed Potatoes, Sweet Canoes – stuffed sweet plantains with choice of Cod fish, Beef, Chicken, Veggies and more.
Side Dishes – Rice, black beans, rice and beans, Moro rice, green salad.
Entrees – Baked Chicken, Roast Pork, Steak and Onions, Shredded Beef Stew, Chicken fricassee, Ox Tail Stew and more.
Desserts – Flan, Rice Pudding, Coconut Jell-O, Tres Leche, Cheese Cake, Cupcakes.
Drinks – Coquito.

Lady Aries Soul Food LLC

L&G Catering Services, LLC

NINI

Location: Manhattan, East Harlem
Type of Business: Catering
Development Name: Johnson
Name: Naima Afoatti
Phone: (646) 644-4784
Email: drinkNINI@gmail.com
Description:
“A Sip of Africa” is a holistic beverage company that sells healthy and traditional African drinks to businesses, and uses the earnings to fund solutions towards providing a sustainable pathway for economic stability for entrepreneurs based in Togo & in Harlem! Their methodology focuses on mobilizing processes—human, economic, and natural—for sustainable, life-changing initiatives. They use a resource-based community development approach that encourages self-confidence and independence, and inspires an appreciation of existing resources in the community and the confidence to build upon them. Their drinks range from satisfying hibiscus to bold ginger and each purchase partakes on their mission to share the stories of the people they support. And that’s why they want NINI on your store shelves! Let’s take a significant step towards rebuilding OUR Africa, the original birthplace of all people. (“NINI” is product of LOMÉ)
What They Sell: West African and specialty juices

Love Bliss Wellness LLC

Location: Brooklyn, Fort Greene
Type of Business: Catering
Development Name: Whitman
Name: Omene-Afua El
Phone: C: (718) 840-7348
Description:
Love Bliss Wellness LLC is a Holistic Self Care Brand. They believe in the power of sound mind, body and spirit. They create “hapi” food that results in their clients feeling happy when they consume their meals. Though their primary service is preparing 80% organic and sustainable ingredients that nourishes and transforms the souls of humanity one being at a time, its owner, Omena El offers a unique service where she utilizes her Board Certification as a Holistic Nutritionist and Thai Massage Therapist. She creates customize meal plans and wellness packages for their clients. They also understand that there is no universal diet and health care for All. As humans we have bio-individuality. While they cater delicious eats from our Tropical Soul menu to humanity, their primary focus is nurturing women so they in turn nurture their families and the world from a place of Love, and balance. Come and allow them to serenade your senses with gentle care and harmony.
What They Sell: Customized meal plans and wellness packages for their clients
Social Media:
Facebook: @OmenasLoveBliss

Munch Hours, Inc.

Location: Brooklyn, Brownsville
Type of Business: Catering
Development Name: Van Dyke I
Website: http://munchhoursinc.com/
Name: Niani Taylor
Phone: C: (917) 500-1103
Email: nsixtaylor@aol.com
Description: Munch Hours Inc. does brunch cuisine as a bite-sized food to take on the go. They also will host Pop-Up Brunches in NYC.
What They Sell: Assortment of gourmet brunch, breakfast and finger foods
Social Media:
Facebook: @munchhours

Sabor Restaurant and Bakery

Location: Manhattan, Lower East Side
Type of Business: Restaurant, Bakery
Development Name: LaGuardia
Website: https://www.facebook.com/saborrestaurantbakery/
Name: Christiana Franco
Phone: C: (646) 915-6122
Email: cristiana.franco@sheraton.com ; cristiana.franco1215@gmail.com
Description:
Sabor Restaurant & Bakery is a Colombian and Dominican Restaurant and bakery, offering both sit down and to go service. Their food is cooked fresh daily along with our all of their baked items. They have a unique style to their service because they have their regular menus as well as a steam table that displays different foods daily. Once you walk into the restaurant, you are welcomed by their friendly staff and are enchanted by the smell of their steam table displaying that home cooked style meal that we are all always in the mood for. You will also see their baked good items that will make you stop and want dessert before the main course.
What They Sell: Authentic Colombian and Dominican food and pastries
Social Media:
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/sabor-restaurant-and-bakery-new-york
Facebook: @saborrestaurantbakery

Safi’s Soul Food and Catering, LLC

Location: Brooklyn, Bedford-Stuyvesant
Type of Business: Catering
Development Name: 303 Vernon Avenue
Name: Safiyah Souza
Phone: (917) 865-7987
Email: safiyah_souza@yahoo.com
Description:
Safi’s Soul Food & catering is opening our doors as a LLC in the local Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn area. With great skill and passion, Safi’s is open to business for personal catering for events. We fulfill the catering needs of fellow Brooklynites with superb and creative meals with an enhanced culinary experience. Safi’s bring the community of Bedford Stuyvesant healthy, and hearty food at a really affordable price with their Southern and New York style Dishes. Great taste for a little price!
What They Sell: Safi’s soul food & catering, Delicious and hearty food at a really affordable price with Southern style dishes and a Brooklyn twist.
Social Media:
Instagram : @SafisSoulFood
Facebook: Safi’s soul food & catering

Vee’s For Varieties

Veggie Grub, LLC

Location: Brooklyn, Crown Heights
Type of Business: Catering
Development Name: NYCHA Section 8
Website: www.veggiegrub1.blogspot.com/
Name: Donna Davis
Phone: C: (347) 304-7442
Email: everythingrootsie@yahoo.com ; veggiegrub1@gmail.com
Description:
Chef Rootsie is the brains behind the Veggie Grub LLC operation. She is a seasoned, self-taught vegan/vegetarian chef of 20 years. She had been running her business Veggie Grub for 15 years now and has made a name for herself in NYC as a rocking street vendor/caterer. Most recently, she has taken her business to another level in which she is now a fully licensed entity, NYS Department of Health approved, and operates out of a licensed commercial kitchen in Brooklyn, NY. Her passion for producing vegan/vegetarian comfort food comes from losing over 200 pounds since the beginning of her food mission and disinheriting her family traits such as diabetes and heart disease. Along with her desire to have her children follow in her footsteps, her business began to fly when she started creating fun, comforting meals that her children loved and she has been unstoppable since. She offers 12-week cooking courses as well.
What They Sell: Vegetarian and vegan food
Social Media:
Facebook: @VeggieGrub

West Indian Foods LLC

Location: Manhattan, Upper East Side
Type of Business: Catering
Development Name: Holmes
Website: http://www.msmacswestindianfoods.com
Name: Sarah “Ray Ray” Adams
Phone: C: (347) 213-4203
Email: west.indianfoods@aol.com
Description: Ms. Macs West Indian Fruit Cake, a liquor soaked pastry, has been enjoyed in the islands for centuries as a way to celebrate holidays and weddings. Ray Ray Adams, also known as Sarah, grew up watching her grandmother make the fruit cake from scratch on a wood stove. At first, Ray Ray started making the cakes in her kitchen oven and selling them to friends. Year after year they would return because she managed to standardize the menu to create the same taste. Now, she produces Ms. Macs Fruit Cake in an agency inspected, licensed commercial facility with industrial sized equipment. Ms. Macs also offers catering for events that desire other West Indian delicacies.
What They Sell: Our menu consists of Caribbean dishes and pastry.

Juices

Eden’s Garden Juices, LLC

Location: Bronx, Baychester
Type of Business: Catering
Development Name: NYCHA Section 8
Name: Shawna Jones
Phone: C: (347) 608-1788
Email: edensgardenjuices@gmail.com
Description: Eden’s Garden Juices, waters and milk affirmation beverages are a line of all natural beverages for refreshment, mental clarity and bathing. Be fruitful, choose Eden’s Garden Juices.
What They Sell: Natural, cold-pressed juices
Social Media:
Facebook: @EdensGardenJuices
Instagram: @edensgardenjuices
Twitter: @Edensgardenjuic