For Cheri Henry, food has always been about more than what’s on the plate. It is about family, gathering, and the quiet power of a good meal to bring people together. Through RK Exclusive, Henry is transforming those lessons into a growing culinary brand rooted in love, legacy, and elevated comfort.

Henry’s passion for cooking began in her grandmother’s kitchen. She watched her grandmother cook and feed an entire family with ease, generosity, and care. Those early memories sparked a lifelong love for food and hospitality. Years later, during one of the most difficult seasons of her life, cooking became something even deeper.

In 2021, Henry lost both of her parents just three months apart. In the midst of grief, she found herself returning to the kitchen, rediscovering purpose through the act of cooking. What started as a form of personal reflection eventually became a calling. In 2025, she officially founded RK Exclusive, turning her passion into a business built on resilience, memory, and creativity.

A Legacy of Giving in Park Heights

Family and community have always shaped Henry’s approach to food. Her grandmother has lived in the Park Heights community for more than 57 years and instilled in her family the importance of giving and feeding those in need. Growing up, Henry learned that gathering around a table is about more than eating. It is about connection, comfort, and care.

As she got older, those lessons took on new meaning. RK Exclusive reflects that legacy by creating meals meant to be shared and experiences designed to make people feel welcomed and appreciated.

Gourmet Comfort With a Luxury Twist

RK Exclusive stands out in Baltimore’s food scene by offering gourmet comfort food with a luxury feel. While many competitors focus on fast food or similar menus, Henry elevates classic comfort dishes through presentation, flavor, and attention to detail.

Whether catering events or preparing for the launch of her upcoming food truck, RK Exclusive delivers an experience that blends elegance with approachability. Desserts are a signature offering, with customer favorites including banana pudding cake and sweet potato honey bun cake. Henry is also developing her own seasoning and sauce brand, allowing her to create bold flavors without relying heavily on salt.

Building Opportunity Through Food

RK Exclusive is rooted in community impact. As the business grows, Henry plans to create local jobs through catering services and future food truck operations. Her vision includes using food as a way to pour back into the neighborhoods that shaped her, while creating pathways for opportunity and growth.

Looking Toward the Future

The next chapter for RK Exclusive includes the purchase of a food truck and, in the coming years, the opening of a brick and mortar location. Henry envisions a space where people can gather, celebrate, and experience food that feels both comforting and elevated.

Each step forward is guided by intention and staying true to the story behind the brand.

Meals With Meaning

When customers experience RK Exclusive, Henry hopes they take away more than great flavor. She wants them to feel what it truly means to gather and break bread together.

“I hope my customers taste the story and the love behind every meal,” she says. “We don’t just make food. We make meals with a story to tell.”

At RK Exclusive, every dish is an invitation to connect, reflect, and enjoy the moment where elegance meets flavor.

How to Contact RK Exclusive

For catering inquiries or more information, contact
Cheri Henry at eleganceandflavor@rkexclusive.net.

GBUL Restaurant Accelerator Program Cohort and staff. Photo credit Stephen Hopkins

About This Series

This feature is part of a collaboration between The Baltimore Times and the Greater Baltimore Urban League. Over the next few months, The Baltimore Times will spotlight businesses that participated in GBUL’s Restaurant Accelerator Program (RAP), sponsored by the Pepsi Foundation. Through the program, businesses were awarded grant funding and received free business coaching to strengthen their operations and community impact. For more information about RAP, visit GBUL.org.

Click Here to See More posts by this Author