Become the Hostess With The Mostest
At The Table With: Chef Kristi Brown and the Beauty of Human Connection
Name: Chef Kristi Brown
Instagram: thatbrowngirlcooks
Pronouns: She/Her/They
Favorite Sur La Table Kitchen Tool: I love the Ratchet Mill! The simplest of tools, but when I make my favorite spice blends, it grinds it together perfectly!
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Chef Kristi Brown was always meant to wear the title of “Chef.”
From her youngest memories of helping her father and grandmother in the kitchen to the three-course meals she’d prepare at the ripe old age of 5–“complete with printed menus and actual courses!” she laugh–Kristi knew this was what she was meant to do.
A native of Kansas City, Chef Kristi Brown has called Seattle “home” for over 3 decades. After graduating from Seattle Central College’s culinary program, she honed her career at restaurants all across the city. From working as a dishwasher and prep cook to opening and running her own catering business for nearly 10 years–you name it, she’s done it.
Her catering business–aptly named, “That Brown Girl Catering,” opened in 1996 with an emphasis on providing full-service catering for everything from corporate functions and community events to civic organizations and event private parties.
That Brown Girl Catering not only gave Chef Kristi invaluable business management experience, but helped her develop meaningful relationships with clients, giving her a foothold in the burgeoning Seattle culinary scene.
“I’ve had many experiences where the food I’ve prepared transported people back to fond memories of loved ones long passed.”
Chef Kristi’s love and passion for cooking extends beyond the kitchen into all aspects of who she is–including, especially, her faith.
“One of the biggest aspects of my upbringing that has influenced my cooking is my faith, which combines all my family, my culture and my upbringing.
It’s my belief that all of the things–-whether good, bad or indifferent–are working towards my good. So, when things don’t seem perfect, it’s okay because I believe the Divine Order of things will work it out in my favor.”
And ‘work out’ they are.
In 2020, Chef Kristi added the title of “Restaurateur” to her resume with the opening of her renowned, Soul-food inspired restaurant, COMMUNION.
Nestled squarely at the intersection of Seattle’s Capitol Hill and Central District neighborhoods, COMMUNION is an amalgamation of all the things that Chef Kristi loves: people, food and the cultures that made her who she is.
COMMUNION’s seasonally-rotating menu boasting elevated twists on Soul food classics–-like, deep-fried cornmeal crusted shrimp on a bed of bearnaise sauce–-has proved to be a winning formula, earning her a James Beard Award nomination and spots on “Best Of” lists in the New York Times, Seattle Met Magazine, Conde Naste and Seattle Eater.
It’s a journey that, she acknowledges, might not have even been an option if it wasn’t for food.
“Food has opened doors for me that I would not have otherwise had access to.”
And the connection to her customers? Well, that’s one of the best parts of it all, she tells us: “When people share how my stories and words of encouragement have helped and inspired them, that means the world to me.”
In fact, the idea of ‘connection’ is one of Chef Kristi’s biggest motivators and one that she hopes to bring to others through her food–-whether that’s over a shared love of a cuisine, a favorite recipe or even just the natural sharing of cultures that occurs over a meal.
“it’s important to celebrate [Black History Month] every day, because without acknowledging each individual culture, we lose the truest sense of who we are. That is what makes the human race special–we have a common core, but we’re all different and those differences should be celebrated!”
Hungry for more? If you’re in the Seattle area, check out COMMUNION at 2350 E Union St. Or, follow Chef Kristi Brown on Instagram or check out her website–That Brown Girl Cooks–for more on Chef Kristi’s culinary adventures.
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