Cinco de Mayo energy, done with intention.
From editorial offices to brand activations,
every detail is built to invite engagement, connection, and presence.
Because it’s never just about the food...
it’s about how it makes people feel.
Moments like this go beyond the occasion,
they become something people remember.
The menu changes.
The intention never does.
In collaboration with Old El Paso and Edelman.
Designed for a wedding that valued warmth over spectacle.
The brief was simple:
create something that feels like home.
Not overproduced.
Not overwhelming.
Just thoughtful, warm, and beautifully set.
For 150 guests…
that kind of intention matters even more.
Every table, considered.
This is the work.
Not just what’s plated…
but what’s directed, adjusted, and refined in real time.
Because what guests experience…
is never by accident.
📸: @garrygpro
Some evenings stay with you.
Hosted by @AnneShoket of @theli.st and held alongside Laura @limigno , this gathering created space for women to come together in reflection, conversation, and care.
Led by @PrentisHemphill , we explored healing not just as an idea, but as a practice. Through somatic modalities, we were invited to be present in our bodies, to feel, and to meet ourselves with honesty.
Healing isn’t linear. Showing up isn’t always easy,but it is necessary. And in rooms like this, community becomes part of the work.
I had the honor of curating the culinary experience for the evening--grounded, thoughtful, and in rhythm with the space.
The menu changes. The intention never does.
the homegrown experience
📸: @maxyoconnor
Joy, plated.
For Disney’s Power of Joy, every detail was designed with intention—
not just to feed, but to create a feeling.
A room full of women.
A table full of stories.
A space where joy didn’t have to be earned… it simply existed.
This is the work.
— Chef Janelle
đź“Ť@themaisonprojects_
📸 @garrygpro
đź’„: @mrs.shereenfromqueens@disney
#disneypowerofjoy
Joy is often spoken about.
But in a room like this, it’s something you design.
For Disney’s Power of Joy, the intention wasn’t just to serve a meal, it was to support a feeling.
Through color, texture, rhythm, and flow,
each element at the table was considered.
Not just how it would taste, but how it would land.
How it would hold conversation.
How it would invite presence.
Because food, when done with care, becomes part of the story people carry with them.
This is the work.
📸: @garrygpro
đź“Ť @themaisonprojects_
#nyc #nyccatering #homegrown #disneypowerofjoy #disney
The food sets the tone. Your guests walk away with the experience.
I had the honor of supporting @antenna_up 's inaugural Healthier Men At Work summit — bringing together over 100 leaders, storytellers, and changemakers in NYC for an honest conversation about wellness, work, and what it means to show up fully.
From an intimate VIP lunch to continuous service throughout the day, my role was to support the rhythm of the room.
As a chef, I think beyond the plate.
I think about how people feel in the space.
How the experience flows.
How nourishment supports the energy of the room.
Moments like these aren't just events —
they're environments that shape connection, clarity, and conversation.
Grateful to have contributed to this one.
More rooms like this.
Chef Janelle 🌺
📸: @garrygpro
At HG by JP, we had the honor of creating small bites for a community gathering hosted by Equality for Flatbush with the Zohran Mamdani team.
It wasn’t about scale — it was about spirit.
About showing up with intention, feeding with care, and making space for conversations that nourish beyond the plate.
Every event we do is a reflection of our mission — to connect people through culture, wellness, and food that feels like love.
So wherever you are today — whether it’s at the polls, in your kitchen, or within your community — remember that showing up matters.
Until the next event... XO, Chef Janelle 🌸
#BrooklynChef #blackchef #WomenInFood
Crafting something sweet, intentional, and beautiful. Bella Ami Bonbons is my love letter in chocolate — the beginning of something more.
This Labor Day weekend, as Brooklyn comes alive with the West Indian American Day Parade, I’m reminded that food and heritage are how we gather, celebrate, and carry our stories forward. 💛
More to come soon.
#IndulgeBeautifully #BellaAmi #blackchef #cheflife
“Don’t be ridiculous, Andy. Everyone wants this.” Meryl said it best — because really, who wouldn’t want a plate like this?
Peach season, celebrated my way:
• Fruit salad with tropical brightness
• Jerk chicken with smoky spice
• Rice and peas, the heartbeat of the table
• Peach BBQ salmon, smoky-sweet perfection
• Peach salad, crisp and refreshing
• Guava tamarind bonbon — a jewel of a flavor
Paired with Julia’s Gin— because every dish deserves a good story and a good sip. Every peach came straight from @passportps tree. And, we don’t get any more Brooklyn and organic than that!
Brooklyn peaches. Caribbean roots. A story told on a plate. Created with love by @hgbyjp & @bellaamibonbons
Until the next event...
Xo,
Chef Janelle
#ChefJanelle #peach #BlackChefs #Brooklyn
✨️Brunch as an experience, not just a meal✨️
A Sunday afternoon layered in flavor, beauty, and intention — where every detail told a story. The sparkle of @gasjewelers The smooth pour of @drink_juliagin The delicate sweetness of @bellaamibonbons And the signature cuisine of @hgbyjp — crafted to nourish and delight
This wasn’t just brunch — it was a curated experience.
A celebration of Black-owned excellence, artistry, and connection.
We gathered voices, textures, and colors to remind us that beauty matters — that presence is power.
When we show up with intention, we create more than a menu.
We create meaning.
We create moments.
We create memories.
Here’s to more tables that feed both body and soul. 🥂
Until the next event…
XO,
Chef Janelle.
#brunchtime #drinklocal #BlackOwnedBusiness #blackchef #jeweler
