🚨SAVE THE DATE: We are thrilled to share that our annual gala will be taking place on June 3rd!
Join Hot Bread Kitchen's Breadwinners Pitch for an evening of purpose and celebration showcasing the next generation of food entrepreneurs.
Learn more at the link in our bio or visit hotbreadkitchen.org/benefit26! Much more information to come 💜
Welcome to baking day at Hot Bread Kitchen! 🥐🍞🥖
Baking is one of the core components of our Culinary Fundamentals programs. Participants learn about weighing and scaling ingredients, identifying basic baking tools/equipment, and more!
Interested in learning more? Visit the link in our bio or go to hotbreadkitchen.org/culinary-fundamentals
Our 2025 Impact Report has officially launched! 🎉 ✨
We started last year celebrating a powerful milestone: 1,000+ Breadwinners strong. That moment pushed us to think bigger, leading to a new strategic plan focused on sustainable growth, expanded access, and stronger pathways to economic mobility.
Just one year later and the impact is tangible:
✅ Record job placements across NYC’s food industry
✅ Launch of our Management Training Institute to support long-term career growth
✅ 200+ small business enrollments and a second Start cohort to empower more entrepreneurs
Visit the link in our bio to read the full 2025 Impact Report!
Thank you for being part of this community and supporting our mission. 💜
✨JUDGE ANNOUNCEMENT✨
We’re thrilled to welcome Melba Wilson as a 2026 Breadwinners Pitch judge!
Harlem native and James Beard nominee Melba Wilson embodies the essence of New York as one of the most successful African American women in the restaurant and catering industries. Her remarkable achievements and stellar reputation have made @melbasharlem a beloved New York landmark, frequented by a diverse array of patrons, including music, TV, and movie stars/
As a dedicated mother, author, philanthropist, community advocate, as well as an investor in each of her ventures, Melba continues to be a beacon of excellence and empowerment, supporting various causes and organizations in Harlem and throughout New York City. In 2025, Melba joined Hot Bread Kitchen as the honoree of our Breadwinners Benefit. We are grateful to have her return this year to share her industry expertise with our entrepreneurs!
🎟Visit the link in our bio to learn more about the event and snag your ticket today!
#2026BreadwinnersPitch #HotBreadKitchen #MelbaWilson #MelbasHarlem
We are thrilled to share that Chef Keesha of @live.loud.foods will be taking the stage at our live pitch event + gala on June 3rd!
“Live Loud Foods is a fierce and fun culinary lifestyle brand born in the Bronx, inspired by the vibrant and diverse culture of New York City. Bursting with bold global flavors, like our Caribbean jerk nuts and Candied Citrus Pistachios, our snacks bring joy, connection, and a sense of adventure to any occasion.”
Visit the link in our bio to learn more about our upcoming Breadwinners Pitch event!
Entrepreneurs who join our HBK Incubates programs are given a robust set of knowledge and support to support their business growth.
A key component of this success is knowing the industry terminology. COGS (Cost of Goods Sold) refers to the direct costs of producing your product. Knowing your COGS ensures you aren't losing money on each unit of your product and helps you set a price that covers your overhead.
Our different small business programs work with members to identify their COGS. We provide tools and hands-on coaching to help members calculate their COGs and track their COGs, create a pricing strategy, and determine if their product will be commercially viable from a cost perspective.
Visit the link in our bio or go to hotbreadkitchen.org/hbki to learn more about our programs for entrepreneurs!
#hbkcurriculum
We are thrilled to share that HBKi business Shimada Bakery will be featured at the cocktail hour of our upcoming benefit!
ShimadaYa Bakery founder Keiko serves up delicious Japanese pastries and savory goods at farmers markets and pop-up events throughout New York City. ShimadaYa Bakery incorporates classic Japanese flavors such as red bean, matcha, and miso into their delectable treats.
We can’t wait to share bites from @shimadaya_nyc with you on June 3rd!
#AAPIheritagemonth
Today is Mother's Day, and we're spotlighting the mother-daughter entrepreneurial duo behind HBKi business Mama Cheryl's Kitchen!
Sarah and Cheryl are bringing flavors from the big easy to the big apple with @mama_cheryl_kitchen . Together, they are championing their family legacy through food and community.
"Eventually this business will comedown to my daughters and granddaughters, and they can keep the legacy going long after I'm gone." - Mama Cheryl
Don't forget to swing by Mama Cheryl's pop-up on Saturdays in front of the Central Library in Brooklyn. Wishing everyone a happy and celebratory Mother's Day!
#mothersday #motherdaughter #entrepreneurs
We 💜 our chef community!
Thank you @gailsimmonseats , @clarkbar , @niloumotamed , @grdovic , for donating so many of your beloved cookbooks to our Hot Bread Kitchen cookbook library.
Our member library is a resource for our program participants to expand their culinary knowledge, curiosity, and keep learning outside the classroom!
And, we’re so excited to bring @gailsimmonseats forthcoming book, Guesting, to our library!
#cookbookcollection #library #cookbooks
✨JUDGE ANNOUNCEMENT✨
We’re thrilled to welcome Basu Ratnam as a 2026 Breadwinners Pitch judge!
Basu Ratnam is the founder of INDAY, an Indian-inspired fast-casual restaurant group in New York City and Hot Bread Kitchen Employer Partner! Since launching @indayallday in 2015, he has grown INDAY into a multi-unit brand known for bold flavors, thoughtful sourcing, and a commitment to making high-quality Indian food more accessible. Basu is particularly passionate about creating businesses that scale with integrity—where team culture, product quality, and financial performance all reinforce one another. In addition to his entrepreneurial success, Basu is also an active voice in the next generation of food entrepreneurs, investing in food and technology. He sits on the food council of City Harvest, industry council of Food Education Fund and is an advisor to New Fare Partners.
We can’t wait for our entrepreneurs to learn from what his unique perspective and experiences have to offer!
🎟Visit the link in our bio to learn more about the event and snag your ticket today!
#2026BreadwinnersPitch #HotBreadKitchen #IndayAllDay #BasuRatnam
📸photo 2-3 cred @greatjones and @vincenttullo
The @delta Difference goes beyond the plane. Proud to serve NYC with @hotbreadkitchen this Global Volunteer Month, helping NYers with mock interviews that will fuel a new chapter in their career journey. ✨
