Culinary Creatives Chat: Brooklyn Tea

This is a special edition of our Culinary Creatives Chat series in partnership with Jason Wallace’s Hidden Figures podcast. Here, Brooklyn Tea founders Ali Wright and Jamila McGill explore their journey from small beginnings at festivals to opening a bustling brick-and-mortar location. Discover how their Caribbean heritage, passion for tea, and commitment to community have shaped their brand. Watch the full conversation here.

You’ve got to “C” it to believe it. Our ongoing #CulinaryCreativesChat series is a virtual space to empower Black food entrepreneurs through testimonies from thriving industry peers.

Culinary Creatives Chat: Laila Ali

Laila Ali has had her fair share of competitors in the boxing ring. When it comes to her newer position in the saturated food and beverage industry, the now-retired professional boxer applies a time-tested logic for victory. “I believe in focusing on excellence, not competition,” Ali tells EatOkra. “Exceptional products and services attract customers seeking value. I believe there’s room for all brands to succeed.”

It’s an unsurprising mindset for an undefeated champion. Ali’s business venture, Laila Ali Spice Blends, is a culmination of years experimenting in the kitchen combined with the experiences gleaned from the athletic world. Her organic seasonings—a variety of mix-and-match blends like Garlic Goddess and G.O.A.T—are part of Ali’s growing mission to empower home chefs and equip them with the foundation for bolder, balanced lifestyles. Her brand also includes a cookbook along with fresh online recipes integrating her spices, and a philanthropic arm that circulates funds into aligned organizations like Feeding America.

Culinary Creatives Chat: BEM Brooklyn

Picture this: A cafe by day and a wine bar by night, both within one 24/7 bookstore. Black food literature decorates the shelves in colorful glory—memoirs, cookbooks, poetry, and novels, all telling a unique, mouth-watering story. An open kitchen welcomes live culinary demos and classes; comfy couches seat authors for intimate book readings.

This is the vision of the sister duo Gabrielle and Danielle Davenport as they work to grow their brand, BEM | books & more, into a multifaceted brick-and-mortar shop.