Chef Kristi Brown

Close-up of a woman with short hair, smiling with eyes closed, wearing bright yellow earrings and red lipstick, in front of a brick wall.

Chef Kristi Brown spooned her way through the culinary industry for the past 28 years. Starting at a small café in downtown Seattle, Chef has done just about everything from dishwasher/prep cook to running her own catering business for nearly a decade. From the beginning, her vision was to focus on the art and experience of food through culinary activism. A purpose powered by her mantra, “Everybody’s Gotta Eat!” Chef Kristi builds community through the cultivation of fresh food and fine cooking.

Proceeding the completion of the culinary program at Seattle Central College, Chef Kristi immersed herself in the culinary industry, procuring experiences at Plenty Cafe, Nordstrom, Kingfish Café, and Tuxedo & Tennis Shoes, where she built a solid foundation for growth.

Two women dressed as chefs in a kitchen, chopping vegetables and laughing, with onions, tomatoes, carrots, and leafy greens on the counter.

Equipped with a wealth of experience and knowledge, Chef Kristi opened That Brown Girl Catering (TBGC!) in 1996. TBGC! operated as a full-service catering company; providing breakfast, lunch, & dinner for community events, corporate functions, non-profit meetings, civic organizations & private parties. TBGC! became synonymous with quality, bold flavors, and customer satisfaction. She nurtured a culture of healthy wholesome eating, while maintaining spice, and vivacity. After 10 years of operation, Chef Kristi sought to journey into disparate culinary avenues. This resulted in the closing of TBGC’s doors in 2009.

In 2012, Chef Kristi, lovingly referred to as Chef Goddess, re-imagined her business as That Brown Girl Cooks!, a food, culture, and community organization. Simply put, she calls it a “Culinary Collective.” TBGC! explores her inspirations, melds them with her experiences, and brings them back to the communities she serves. Debuting a variety of products, events, pop-ups, classes, and media presence, she engages and inspires community while connecting people with a wholesome and nurturing lifestyle.

A woman in a chef's coat with colorful earrings is standing in a modern kitchen, adjusting her sleeve near a wooden cutting board with a knife on it, behind a countertop with a bowl of tomatoes.

Two smiling restaurant staff members wearing blue Communion Restaurant & Bar t-shirts inside the restaurant, standing in front of a bar area with wooden accents, glassware, and hanging pendant lights, near large windows.

Chef Kristi has now added to her legacy with the opening of COMMUNION Restaurant & Bar. Since opening in December of 2020. COMMUNION has garnered much acclaim: CONDE NASTE : 12 best new restaurants in the world ; NY TIMES The 50 places in America we're most excited about right now.." : Seattle Met’s Restaurant of the Year ; Seattle Eater’s Best New Restaurants ; and Chef Kristi was named in Seattle Magazines 2021 most influential people.

“Love is a Doing thing”

— Alvin Brown (Chef's Father)