4FEBRUARY 2017 OUT FRONT MAGAZINE / 25th Anniversary Year

They have made it a way of life , and from one chef to another , this chef is impressed .

One day on my random culinary search , I did a quick search of the best chefs in the United States and saw some familiar faces , but did not see anyone who resembled me .

Not only were there no women on this list , but there were no black people on this list .

Surely , there are great black chefs !

Surely , there are great black female chefs !

Anyone who is a follower of the culinary industry is probably familiar with great black pioneer chefs like the late Edna Fisher who is known as “ The Grande Dame of Southern Cooking ,” and who is the author of several cookbooks and recipient of many awards , including the famous James Beard Award .

Another famous chef is the legendary Queen of Creole , Chef Leah Chase , owner of the iconic restaurant Dooky Chase in New Orleans . Chase is also the author of many cookbooks and is a television personality . There are many more .

I decided that it was time to feature not only individuals who look like me but also a field that I have grown to know and love .

Chefs Johnny Caldwell and Taneka Reaves

These ladies have built a brand and a concept and call themselves the “ Cocktail Bandits .”

The two met while attending the

College of Charleston and have hit it off ever since .

While bartending in college , the two noticed that much of their conversation was on food and beverage .

When they could not find women of color who were talking about food and beverage or a mentor , Johnny Caldwell and Taneka Reaves of Charleston , South Carolina began to teach themselves the art of great food and beverage .

“ In the Charleston area with the Gullah and Geechee culture known for their drinks and cuisine and you can ’ t talk about one without talking about the other ,” explains Johnny .

This concept has landed them special appearances all over the world . Their concept includes pairings , liquor tastings , and various beverages .

They have been featured in Sirus XM , NBC Blk , Metro UK online , Charleston Wine and Food Festival , National PBS , and many more regional publications .

They have also hosted events with chefs and many distilleries , juicers , and breweries across the U . S .

One of the duo ’ s favorite drinks to mix is Tequila .

To find out more on these women on the move you can check out their blog , The Cocktail Bandits , their website http :// cocktailbandits . com /,

Cocktail Bandits ( Johnny Caldwell and Taneka Reaves )

or follow them on Instragram , Twitter or Facebook .

These women are the definition of Black Girl Magic .

Chef Ebony Woodard

Ebony Woodard , raised in Athens , Georgia , was inspired to become a chef by her grandmothers . She works out of Virginia Beach , Virginia .

Chef Ebony Woodard

“ I have been cooking since the tender age of eight . I had to learn to cook because my mom worked a lot and was a full time student . She definitely taught how to hold my own in the kitchen ! I have only been cooking on the professional level for six years .”

This fine dining / banquet / private chef previously served in the United States Army , but decided to change her career and attend the Culinary Institute of Virginia .

She calls herself the Passionate Chef and she says the key ingredient to her food is love .

What keeps this chef in the kitchen , fueled and ready to create new dishes ?

“ It ’ s my life , I need it the way I need air to breathe !”

Hence the name the Passionate Chef .

Behind every great chef , there are

. . . Continued on page 6