In the world of soul food, few names resonate as deeply as Claude Booker. As a chef and the founder of Booker’s Soul Food Starters—a company dedicated to providing authentic soul food meal kits—he has made it his mission to celebrate the rich tapestry of flavors and traditions that define this beloved cuisine, and to give back. Booker’s impact as a leading figure in the soul food scene also transcends the kitchen. “Chef Booker has consistently worked to uplift the Black community,” Akin Affrica, president of Soul Republic United Restaurants, told me in an interview. “Over the course of two decades,...

Everyone needs to stay nourished and healthy, and there is no shortage of exciting food, drink, health or lifestyle offerings to order online. So if you are searching for new food, drink, health and/or lifestyle-related discoveries, you have come to the right place. Here are a round-up of items you can order online, as received in July 2023, with direct product-related links included below and videos showing what these items look like when unboxed in live-time on my dinner table by Melissa Paltrowitz. Previous Paltrobox roundup videos can be viewed YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.     Paltrobox #309: The Home Depot & Booker's Soul Food Starters Halloween 2023 from...

MACEDONIA, Ohio – Current events spurred chef Claude Booker to create a Soul Food pantry brand. The first influence was the pandemic. The second was the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. “Our core business was steam table and buffet items that were fully cooked,” says Booker, who worked in food service. “When the pandemic hit, all chef’s departments throughout the country were shut down. At first, people didn’t know how you got Covid, and all the buffets shut down.”

If this is your idea of Mac and Cheese (it’s Kraft!) you’ve never tasted real Mac and Cheese. THE RICHEST, CREAMIEST, CHEESIEST MAC AND CHEESE IS A SNAP TO MAKE. Mac and Cheese’s distant cousins, Penne with 4 Cheeses (above) and Maccheroni Cacio e Pepe below Mac and Cheese is the ultimate comfort food. With its velvety, luscious sauce and its irresistibly gooey, cheddar-cheesy texture, small wonder it’s been one of America’s favorite, easy-to-make dinners for at least 125 years.  It became so popular in the 1930s that it was canned and sold ready-made in supermarkets. Need I tell you...

Not trying to do everything and letting other folks help me. It was hard, but it made me better. Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Claude Booker, Co-Founder of Soul Food Starters, located in Macedonia, OH, USA. What's your business, and who are your customers? Our business is food, and our brand is Booker’s Soul Food Starters, and we are pantry-ready Soul Food mixes created to make it easy to prepare at home. We believe everyone will love our products once they try them, but...

Whoo hoo! The fireworks have started! Summer is here, and it’s time to soak up the sun and embrace the carefree spirit of the season! With longer days and warmer temperatures, there’s no better time to indulge in the delights of summer fun, fashion, and delicious treats. Whether you’re planning a beach getaway, or backyard barbecue, or simply looking for ways to make the most of the season, we’ve got you covered. We’ll explore an exciting array of products that will elevate your summer experience. From trendy fashion must-haves to refreshing beverages and mouthwatering treats, get ready to discover the...

Behind the brand of the family mealtime staple is a husband-and-wife team who want to ensure Black students across the U.S. can thrive without financial barriers and systemic limitations. Nationwide — Claude and Crystal Booker created their timesaving seasoning packets, Booker’s Soul Food Starters, to help folks reconnect at the dinner table. Dedicated to bettering the community to whom they serve simple homestyle cooking, the husband-and-wife team have started the Booker’s Soul Food Starters Black Education Fund. Every purchase made supports Black youth beyond the dinner table – ensuring everyone receives a quality education without financial barriers or systemic limitations. “From sharing...

Chef Booker gets mealtime started with soul food shortcuts so good, Soul Food Sunday will be back in no time Nobody knows good soul food like Chef Claude Booker – well, except some of our grandmas. But in today’s world, not everyone has the time to put love into a good homecooked meal. You know, the kind of comforting soul food that gets each member of the family excited to sit down for supper. That’s why husband-and-wife team Claude and Crystal Booker decided to transform their cherished family recipes into pantry-ready starter kits that make it easy to bring together...

From edible cookie dough to drizzled popcorn, here are all the items that you need to stock up for the season. 1. Edible Cookie Dough from Sweet Loren's   Sweet Loren's is known for creating irresistible tasting cookie dough crafted with only clean, gluten-free, and vegan ingredients for an elevated and seriously tasty treat that doesn’t require sacrifice or guilt. The refrigerated Pre-Cut Cookie Dough varieties are ready-to-bake (or eat raw) and available in best-selling Chocolate Chunk, Sugar, Fudgy Brownie, and Oatmeal Cranberry. The brand also debuted a new Less Sugar Cookie Dough line with 40% less sugar than other leading...

As a part of our series called “5 Things You Need To Create a Successful Food or Beverage Brand”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Claude Booker. Meet culinary expert and business leader Claude Booker, the CEO and founder of Booker’s Soul Food Starters which are now available in over 1,000 grocery stores across the country. His business providing Southern side dishes for buffets was decimated as a direct result of the pandemic, and most buffets remain closed. He pivoted his business during the pandemic and went from ideation to grocery store shelves with Booker’s Soul Food Starters in nine months. He did...

The Booker’s Soul Food Starters have been created as a range of high-quality spice blends to enhance your favorite recipes and meals in a simple, one-step way.The spice blends were created by Claude and Crystal Booker, and come in several signature flavor options to choose from including Candied Yams, Collard Greens, Mac and Cheese and Peach Cobbler Filling. The products are great for keeping on hand in the pantry to enhance a recipe in a one-stop manner. The products come in 1.25-ounce packs priced at $4.99 each.The Booker’s Soul Food Starters are formulated to help preserve Black culinary history and...