We’re looking forward to introducing you to K.T. Braxton. Check out our conversation below.
K.T., it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Cooking just because I want to brings me joy and therapy. I’ve been reveling in my time in the kitchen without someone else’s request or expectation – just staying connected to my artistry.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi there, I’m K.T. Braxton, the Chef + CEO of Kenny’s 622 Trowbridge. I believe in real food that is both delicious and nourishing to the body and soul. I serve love on every plate and build community. I offer private chef services and cooking classes. The mission of Kenny’s 622 Trowbridge is to cook with love, feed the soul, make real food taste good, openly say grace, and give thanks to God. We strive to fuse music and cuisine with various arts, blending hood culture with sophistication to make everyone feel at home.
I am a serial entrepreneur, and every business endeavor is an extension of myself, but Kenny’s 622 Trowbridge is especially personal because it is a love letter to my family and my city. 622 Trowbridge was the address of a family home on the North End of Detroit lost in the long game of gentrification. That home was where my grandparents made people feel welcome and fed folks in the neighborhood whenever they could. It was not where I truly embarked on my culinary journey, but pieces of my foundation were laid at that home. My grandparents’ legacy and my parents’ hard work are rooted in this business.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My grandfather. He has been gone most of my life now. I was 12 when he passed away, but he always told my parents that I would be “somebody”. They frequently recall his words to me. As a child, he saw me as intelligent, gifted, and strong. When I wouldn’t describe myself as any of those words, I think about my grandfather’s confidence in me and belief in who I would be. Sometimes I still don’t think I fully see myself as he did.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell young KB that life is complex; warn her that she will go through unfathomably hard times but assure her that God will see her through it all.; inform her that she will experience joy and peace and advise her to hold onto them; and encourage her to lean into her gifts and trust that they will make room for her. I suppose that’s more than one, but if you read my book you know I’m a woman of more than one word (haha).
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My circle would (hopefully) say that my faith in God, my tribe, food, music, and making impact matter to me.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
If I laid it all down, love would remain. That is the heartbeat of everything I do, or at least it should be. That’s for what I strive. I love food – the art of it, dreaming up recipes, feeding people. If I ever reach my goal to make it on the Food Network and do not love the art of the food or the people who consume it, it won’t matter. As a Bible-believing Christian, I wholeheartedly believe that without love I am nothing. Without love, all of my work would be in vain anyway.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kennys622trowbridge.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kennys622trowbridge
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kenny-s-622-trowbridge/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=kenny%27s%20622%20trowbridge%20llc
