That Brown Girl Cooks! Named a 2026 Corporate Citizenship Award Recipient and Diversity Champion
Proving the belief that food can nourish both people and purpose, That Brown Girl Cooks! (TBGC!)—the visionary hospitality group founded by Chef Kristi Brown—has been honored as a 2026 Corporate Citizenship Award recipient and named a Diversity Champion by the Puget Sound Business Journal.
This prestigious recognition celebrates organizations that are creating a meaningful impact in their communities through demonstrated leadership, service, equity, and philanthropy. For Chef Kristi Brown, often referred to as "Chef Goddess," this award is a direct reflection of the values she and her team live out daily, which include building inclusive spaces, investing in community, creating pathways for representation, and using food as a vital tool for culture, healing, and connection.
A Mission Bigger Than Catering
TBGC! is more than a catering company; it is a "Culinary Collective" and a Black woman-owned business driven by a mission of culinary activism. Rooted in the mantra “#Everybodygottaeat,” the organization is dedicated to celebrating Black culinary traditions and building spaces where culture, storytelling, and connection thrive. This commitment to community impact includes running the "Everybody Gotta Eat!" Community Kitchen, which, in 2021, served thousands of seniors weekly.
Chef Brown's flavorful innovations are known throughout the Pacific Northwest as "Seattle Soul"—a cuisine rooted in traditional American Soul Food and innovated upon by the influences of the region. This unique style tells a story of culture and history, bringing people together around wholesome and bold flavors. TBGC! is also the creator of the famous Black-Eyed Pea Hummus, which is sold in upscale grocers locally.
That Brown Girl Cooks! founder Chef Krist Brown. (Photo: Jordan Somers)
Building a Culinary Legacy in the Central District
The recognition as a Diversity Champion stands alongside a history of major accolades for Chef Kristi Brown's ventures, which she shares with her son and business partner.
Communion Restaurant & Bar: Since opening in 2020, Communion has quickly become one of the region's hottest restaurants. It has garnered national acclaim, including being named one of the "12 best new restaurants in the world" by Conde Nast Traveler and one of the "50 places in America we're most excited about right now" by the New York Times. Chef Brown is also a James Beard Award nominee and was named one of Seattle Magazine’s most influential people in 2021.
Lil’ Brown Girl: Demonstrating a spirit of collaboration, TBGC! partnered with Métier Brewing Company, another prominent Black-owned business, to open Lil’ Brown Girl, a quick-service restaurant inside the Métier Brewing taproom in Seattle's Central District. This joint venture, featuring reimagined classics by Chef Lynn Lewis, aims to create a thriving ecosystem and a place where Black people and the community can feel at home.
WATCH: Chef Brown and the Communion staff celebrate their 5 year anniversary. (Converge Media)
We extend our deepest congratulations to Chef Kristi Brown and the entire That Brown Girl Cooks! Team for this well-deserved honor. Their dedication to feeding both the body and soul is an inspiration to the entire community.
