Gigi’s Music Café VIP menu tasting

On the Scene with Crystal Chanel

On Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018, Gigi’s Music Cafe hosted a VIP Menu Tasting event in collaboration with Chef Kiara Hardy, CEO of Kitchen Killa Culinary Solutions. Together the two brands are embarking on a journey to present nostalgic cuisine in a classy venue with quality service.

Gigi’s Music Cafe was established in 2012 by Gigi English Brown, a Harlem, New York native who has been living in Florida for the past 19 years. She is fully supported by her husband of 42 years, 4 adult children and nine grandchildren who can be seen at the restaurant on any given day. Mrs. Brown is a world traveler and a lover of music who uses Gigi’s Music Cafe to give patrons a piece of her heart. Gigi’s middle child, Semone Brown-Mobley, serves as the backbone of the cafe, running its day to day operations.

Chef Kiara Hardy is a Fort Lauderdale based chef who offers culinary solutions to restaurants. Hardy’s background in operations provides an asset to restaurants in the form of menu consulting, food cost analysis, labor control and more. Working together, Gigi’s Music Cafe and Kitchen Killa Culinary Solutions collaborated on a menu tasting, and pure magic was the result. Chef Kiara assisted in refining operations, stream-lining efficiency and improving customer service. While maintaining owner Gigi’s vision for her restaurant, Chef Kiara instructed Gigi’s staff on food prep, plating and serving guests. Press Release Marketing was hired to produce the event and invite media professionals and local influencers for the family style tasting, which was all the rave. Search #GigisVIPTasting on social media.

In attendance was Bobby Henry, publisher of the Westside Gazette; Attorneys Kenasha Paul and Sarah Ber-trand of The Black Professionals Summit; Suzzette Turnbull, CEO of Uncommon Marketing (and food blogger hobbyist); Althea “Tia” Brown, WSVN Channel 7 Business Coordinator; Darcelle Hall, Producer of Bites with Belkys; Hot 105 radio personality Jill Tracey; Fashion guru Chanel Diana, CEO of I Love Vintage; Sabrina Moore, CEO of Fabulous Gold Standards; social media influencer Rochelle Davis, and Westpine Middle School Principal Christopher Johnson. Amid taking pictures, posting videos, and going live on social media, the table talk was engaging. The conversation of Black (African American) Food ensued as we ate fried green tomatoes, hamhock stew, cornbread, lemon pepper wings, southern fried chicken and waffles, BBQ chicken flatbread, veggie flat-bread, cucumber salad, smothered grilled pork chops, creamy grits, meatloaf, crispy green beans, and so much more.

My readers may recall my article on Black food. I express-ed hesitation with taking my white sista-girlfriend to have Black food because I was concerned with explaining historical relevance and content. At the #GigisVIPTasting, I was questioned whether I was experiencing “Black Shame.” Black shame or not, I am so happy I can take her to eat re-fined Black food from Gigi’s Music Cafe. Kudos to Gigi English Brown and Semone Brown for a job well done. Gigi’s Music Cafe feels like you are with family eating food cooked by your favorite aunt, and I encourage foodies and music lovers to stop by. They are open Tuesday through Saturday. Check them online and via the web at www.gigismusiccafe.com.