Applications Now Accepted for “Displaced Chefs” Project, Competition

Natasha Brown-Wainwright, CEO of Natasha’s Just Brittle/B’more Made With Pride, recently discussed the launch of the “Displaced Chefs” project. The series of pop-up shops will support local, displaced chefs who have lost their businesses.

“I started envisioning this over the last three months,” said Brown-Wainwright. “I enjoy birthing something for people to enjoy. I know it’s a lot of people [displaced chefs] out there who want to give it another chance and just don’t know how. This might be a small step in the direction to help them.”

The owner of Natasha’s Just Brittle specializes in handcrafted chocolate treats, brittle treats, popcorn, and snickerdoodle cookies.

“In 2018, I opened B’more Made with Pride Commercial Kitchen,” the Baltimorean said, noting that she needed a processing facility and a place to cook for Natasha’s Just Brittle.

She also began to welcome other manufacturers.

“The shared kitchen for caterers, chefs, meal prep people, for bakers, allows them to legally prep for their businesses,” said Brown-Wainwright.

Brown-Wainwright further explained that the culinary hub is “designed for 30 businesses.”

 The entrepreneur expanded in 2021 by adding a café next to the kitchen where customers may “eat, drink, and be happy.”  

Recently, Brown-Wainwright began observing how many restaurants were closing. After conducting some research, she discovered that thousands of small and large restaurants in DC, Maryland and Virginia closed between 2020 and 2023. Thereafter, she felt inspired to start a series of pop-ups to help displaced chefs who may want to reopen their businesses and showcase their menus.

“They could use the funds from their pop-up [at The Cafe at B’More Made with Pride, located at 6617 Harford Road in Baltimore, Maryland] to maybe rent a commercial kitchen like mine, or maybe another ghost kitchen [a commercial kitchen that is not designed for dine-in services]. It doesn’t have to be my kitchen. Maybe they could find a place and put a deposit down and just start over again. So, that’s where the idea came from,” Brown-Wainwright said.

After completing a competitive process, five participants will pay a $250 refundable fee to show they are serious about the undertaking. Brown-Wainwright added that participating displaced chefs will get to keep 100% percent of their pop-up funds, but they do need to know how to market their business to get their clientele to support them while receiving assistance through the program.

“They do need to have their staff in place to cook, and they need to have their menu, and just be ready to make their money. They will have three days to do it [at my café]. That’s Thursday, Friday and Saturday, [three days a month from August through December of 2024]” Brown-Wainwright also stated, noting some of the requirements and logistics.

Prepared items can be sold through DoorDash, listed on Brown-Wainwright’s website or whatever they choose to do. This includes the rental of furniture to revamp the décor at The Cafe at B’More Made with Pride. During the nights they can use the space as their restaurant for their customers. Plans are underway to offer exclusive merchandise, too.

“I just wanted it to be an awesome event for them,” Brown-Wainwright said.

The grateful entrepreneur stated that she could have been displaced like some of her peers, so she wants to lend a hand.

“That could definitely be me, if I didn’t have this [three-in-one business] model,” Brown-Wainwright added, noting that she is struggling with her business a little bit.

Brown-Wainwright will also feature the “Culinary Queens Collective,” a group of five influential Black women in the culinary and lifestyles industry who will amplify the “Displaced Chefs” project.

Renate Garrett, founder of Freakin’ Sweet Jars, which is a family-made business selling sweet jars, cookies and cake pops, will serve as one of the “Culinary Queens.”

Garrett used her commercial kitchen to make dessert jars when the business was getting started in 2018. She remarked that the “Displaced Chef” opportunity provides a great chance for business owners to get another start in a field they love.

“Nastasha believes in what you’re doing,” she said. “The opportunity of being present for pop-ups could lead to the opportunity of being at B’more Made with Pride Commercial Kitchen regularly. Then, it can allow you to set up and return to whatever business you were doing.”

Learn more about “Displaced Chefs” by visiting https://www.instagram.com/bmoremadewithpride and https://linktr.ee/brittlequeen. Click on the Displaced Chef tab. The application period ends August 2, 2024. For any inquiries or assistance with the application process, please contact Brown-Wainwright via natashabmoremade@gmail.com.