press release

From Vice President Kamala Harris and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi to author and activist Dr. Cornel West, actor Danny Glover, Congresswoman Barbera Lee and California Governor Gavin Newsom; Chef Rene Johnson’s signature healthy southern-inspired comfort foods have fed guests at countless exclusive soirees from Washington to Hollywood.  

Describing her acumen for whipping up addictive soul food dishes for satisfied A-list crowds, Chef Rene Johnson shares, “My grandmother was amazing in the kitchen, and she always cooked everything fresh and from scratch. Her peach cobbler had fresh peaches right off our trees. Her blackberry jams and desserts were made from scratch from her own blackberry bush, and us kids would pick them for her until our fingers turned purple.  Everything was done with such care and love.”

On a mission to make southern soul food favorites more heart healthy, Rene took her grandmother’s recipes, removing much of the harmful fats, and she began whipping up healthy versions of old-style soul food favorites in her spare time, leading to her 20 year reign as the most in demand soul food chef for A-list soirees. “I taught myself to

Some of Chef Rene’s most recent catered events have included exclusive private black tie gatherings for top executives at Google and YouTube, among others.

A Few of Chef Rene Johnson’s Signature Dishes:

Sweet potato waffles with fried chicken, shrimp and grits bar with red sauce, wine sauce or “cream” sauce (vegan), blackberry and peach cobblers, old fashioned grits, hot water corn bread, vegan butter beans, blackberry jam cupcakes with blackberry jam and blackberry cream cheese frosting