I had the opportunity to interview the gifted author Toni Ann Johnson for @uptownmagazine about her brilliant new book But Where’s Home.
Thank you @treeladytoniann Toni Ann Johnson and @lennybuptown Leonard E. Burnett Jr.
Link in comments
#cornertabletalk #uptownmagazine #autobiographicalfiction #storytelling #blackculture
Your dream will take you far…
This is truly a crowning achievement, so proud of you! @johnhopebryant
#cornertabletalk #blackculture #bradjohnsonrestaurateur #johnhopebryant #cornertabletalkpodcast
“We wanted to explore the ways that food can be a muse.” Jamila Robinson
Looking through the pages of Bon Appétit’s inaugural Art & Design issue (May 2025), I realized that I wasn’t just reading. Each spread and story resonated deeply with me. I was reminded of why the hospitality industry initially appealed to me. Yes, great food is essential, but equally important is the way a place makes people feel: the atmosphere, the intention, and the story that lives in the walls and on the plate when it all comes together.
With every place I’ve been involved with, as the final touches and tastings were prepared for friends and family before the first day of serving the public, I’d sit in nearly every seat just to feel and observe the room from every vantage point. That same care and design philosophy was baked into every inch of this issue. Whether it was a story about Marcus Samuelsson’s return to Ethiopia, with his restaurant atop the tallest building in East Africa, or the role of color psychology, I felt a visceral connection.
Exploring the intersection of food, design, and cultural storytelling with Jamila Robinson, Editor-in-Chief of Bon Appétit and Epicurious, offers a masterclass on how food media can be both visually stunning and meaningful. She and her team have made print feel luxurious again, bringing culture closer and reminding us that food isn't just sustenance; it's connection, it's memory, it's music, it's art.
This special issue is a collector's item.
Tune into to Corner Table Talk to hear more.
#cornertabletalk #blackculture #bradjohnsonrestaurateur #cornertabletalkpodcast #bradjohnsonpodcast #fooddrinkculture #jamilarobinson #bonappétit #epicurious #marcussamuelsson #foodisart #artanddesign #foodmedia #restaurantdesign #colorpsychology #marfa #thomasbullock #printmedia #foodculture
I salute and respect the rigor and intention of Monica Miller’s work presenting “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” at the 2025 Met Gala. Several friends dressed up and attended, from the joy on their socials, it’s clear they had a blast. Seeing those smiling faces—setting aside the relentless barrage of troubling headlines for a night celebrating Black elegance and expression—felt like a win.
Still, the theme of Black Dandyism gave me pause when I first heard about it. Only today did I fully understand what Ive been feeling.
I thought about Spike’s Malcolm X.
An early scene in the movie Spike and Denzel wear Zoot suits. For those of us familiar with Malcolm’s arc, we know he transformed far beyond the man we see in that moment.
What changed in Malcolm was a deep realignment of identity and purpose. He moved from seeking validation through flash and defiance to seeking justice and truth with clarity and authenticity. Eventually, he no longer needed clothes to be seen—his words, presence, and purpose spoke for him.
Toward the end of his life, Malcolm dressed with purposeful simplicity—dark suits, crisp white shirts, narrow ties, and those horn-rimmed glasses. His style became stripped-down, unadorned almost austere, reflecting a man focused on clarity, truth, and leadership.
Certainly no less defiant, this choice stood in stark contrast to the earlier Zoot suit era- loud and flamboyant. Malcolm’s shift in dress wasn’t just about fashion; it mirrored a profound transformation in identity, values, and vision.
This would be brother Malcolm’s 100th this year, I wonder what wisdom we can draw from his too brief earthly life, to guide us to meeting this moment in our history?
It feels like we are at a critical place that requires a mindset—closer to where Malcolm arrived later in life. Less concerned with superficial perception, more an expression of purpose than performance.
As we continue to define and redefine what Black style means, I hope we also reach for something deeper—where expression meets intention, moves us forward and reflects the substance of our evolving story and fight for justice. That would be just Dandy.
**New Episode Alert!** Join me on Corner Table Talk as I dive deep into the world of hospitality with Chip Wade, CEO of Union Square Hospitality Group. From leadership lessons to the power of diversity, this conversation is one you won’t want to miss! Available wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts or WATCH on our YouTube channel @CornerTableTalk . See link in bio.
#hospitalitymanagement #leadershipskills
#chipwade #ushg #enlightenedhospitality
#restaurantlife #africanamericanhistory
#culture #ceoresponsibilities #empathyinaction #diversity #mentorship
#community #careersinhospitality #cornertabletalk #bradjohnsonrestaurateur #cornertabletalkpodcast #fooddrinkculture
Lovely dinner with John Hope Bryant and his wife Chaitra Dalton. Thank you John for inviting me to be a Founding Delegate, Friday, April 4th for a historic, national town hall, “Dream Forward: The Future of Inclusive Economics - A New Business Plan for America.
OPERATION HOPE and The City of Memphis will host a historic virtual town hall and working session on April 4, 2025, the 57th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination. The event will bring together 100 of the nation’s most influential leaders from various sectors, including business, finance, technology, policy, faith, civil society, entertainment, and community development, and feature special appearances by Dr. King’s daughter, Dr. Bernice A. King, and his chief strategist Ambassador Andrew J. Young, who was present on the Lorraine Motel balcony when Dr. King was killed.
Join us here: /LIVES/Memphis_Live.php
#bradjohnsonrestaurateur #cornertabletalk #operationhope #johnhopebryant #drmartinlutherking #ambassadoryoung #economicempowerment
I met Greg Dulan almost 40 years ago while he and his father, renowned restaurateur Adolf Dulan, were visiting black-owned restaurants in New York City. When I moved to Los Angeles a few years later, Adolf’s beloved Southern-style restaurant, Aunt Kizzy’s Back Porch in Marina Del Rey, with its home-cooked soul food and warm, welcoming atmosphere, was my home away from home. I’ve enjoyed a close bond with both Adolf and Greg over the years and attended the memorial service for Adolf when he passed away in 2017. Given the Dulan legacy and my long relationship with both father and son, I am especially honored to have my friend and colleague Greg on this episode of Corner Table Talk. LISTEN
https://apple.co/3DH9KMw OR WATCH https://youtu.be/WqFWGxL0058
#cornertabletalk #bradjohnsonrestaurateur #cornertablemedia
#foodpodcast #fooddrinkculture #2ndgeneration
#RestaurantIndustry
#entrepreneurship
#dulansoncrenshaw
#soulfoodla
#blackownedbusiness
#LAFoodScene
#SoulFoodLovers
#losangeleseats
#supportblackbusinesses
#foodculture
#jamesbeardsemifinalist
#LegacyAndLeadership
#blackexcellence
#communityfirst
I don’t know about you but I would guess many share a similar experience….
Waking up grateful for a beautiful Sunday morning, my very next thought goes to those no longer here, and once in my immediate circle. The Sunday morning call to my dad, wherever he was, and the sound of his voice, warmly greeting me “Johnson” would tumble out, when he heard mine.
‘25
New streets, faces and places. Then I put on my headphones en route to give thx somewhere, and I’m reminded & instantly reconnected. My man and late Bill Yarbro is on his bike next to mine on a too many to count Venice bike path rides. The tunes in his ear hitting him like mine move me.
That’s the connection, unbroken. to all places and people I’ve loved. The music. Another thing to be so so grateful for.
❤️🙏🏽LA
“The future in this country is one where the folks setting the pace will be more diverse than ever. That’s baked in, and while there’s backlash, the numbers will ultimately tell the tale.” – Clarence Otis Jr.
From Watts to the corner office, Clarence Otis Jr. shares his reflections on leadership, diversity, and progress. Tune in to the full episode for more inspiring insights. 🎧
#CornerTableTalk #DiversityInLeadership #BlackExcellence #LeadershipJourney #clarenceotisjr #FutureOfAmerica #bradjohnsonpodcast #resilenceandgrowth
As this trip to the Vineyard approached, mourning for what had been, was accompanied by cynicism that the Vineyard as I knew it had morphed into a place less desirable. Walking the streets of Oak Bluffs my experience proved very different... READ MORE - Link in Bio
#marthasvineyard #oakbluffs #blackleisure #thevineyard #blackhistory #summermemories #blackculture #eastchop #menemsha #aquinnah #islandqueen #woodsholesteamship #edgartown
