It’s that time of year again. Fun, family, friends and — wait for it — food. Whether it’s your turn to host this year’s get-together, or you’re looking for unique gift ideas, we’ve got you covered. From the main course to the sweet finish, these Black-owned food brands are offering up some festive eats (vegan and gluten-free options included) that could be a hit at your holiday party. Some make nice gifts, too!
Founder: Shawn Davis
Price range: Most products range between $39-$169
Tasty pick: Crispy Crunchy Breaded Nashville Hot Wings
Southern-style fried chicken is always a crowd-pleaser. Seasoned with a special blend of herbs and spices, this chicken recipe boasts three different flavors: Original (not spicy), CryBaby (mild) and Rambo (hot). Choose between the crispy hot wings (50- or 100-pack), or one of the family meals, which serve four to eight people.
Founder: Deborah Torres
Price range: Most products range between $11-$90
Tasty pick: Vegan Deep Fried N’ Stuffed Turkey
Vegans can get their holiday grub on, too. This plant-based food brand offers a variety of meat alternatives that could be just as satisfying as the real thing, such as Extra Crispy Fried Chick’n, Apple Wood Fired Ribs and Deep Fried N’ Stuffed Turkey — all based with non-GMO wheat.
Founder: Ayindè Howell
Price range: Most products range between $19.99-$29.99
Tasty pick: Original Mac & Yease
Make room for the sides. Another plant-based pick, Chef Ayindè’s Original Mac & Yease is what put iEatGrass on the map. Inspired by his great-grandmother’s traditional baked mac ’n’ cheese, this recipe promises to uphold that same richness, creaminess and flavor — just “vegan-ized.”
Founder: Toyin Kolawole
Price range: Most products range between $5-$30
Tasty pick: Gluten-Free Artisan Rosemary Bread Baking Mix
Providing “new ways to eat old favorites,” Iya Foods fuses African flavors with American cuisine. Inspired by Kolawole’s Nigerian roots, this health-focused food company offers a wide range of pantry staples, including plantain flour for holiday baking and piri-piri seasoning for an added kick of flavor to any dish.
Founder: Iesha Williams
Price range: Most products range between $25-$75
Tasty pick: Pumpkin Gingersnap with White Chocolate Sable Cookie
Cleanse your palate for something sweet, because this New York -based pastry shop may know a thing or two about some good old-fashioned baking. Known for their cookies, The Salty Heifer is always thinking up new flavors in the kitchen. They also bake vegan and gluten-free products and promise to use locally sourced and sustainable ingredients wherever they can.
Founder: Ashley Rouse
Price range: Most products range between $14-$78
Tasty pick: Strawberry Chipotle & Fig
Consider adding these vegan, low-sugar jams to your holiday charcuterie board, or gift them to a friend. With a variety of unconventional flavors like Blueberry Lemon Basil and Sour Cherry Ginger, Trade Street Jam Co. claims to make all jams by hand and promises to skip the preservatives.
Founder: Natasha Wainwright
Price range: Most products range between $6-$20
Tasty pick: Chocolate Dipped Pretzels
Created by “The Brittle Queen” herself, Wainwright is blessing candy lovers everywhere with brittle galore. From chocolate-dipped potato chips sprinkled with brittle pieces, to cashew brittle clusters, you can enjoy this confection in any way. Handmade and preservative-free, this recipe claims to use fresh ingredients, such as organic sugar, nuts and sea salt.
Founder: Auzerais Bellamy
Price range: Most products range between $35-$95
Tasty pick: Sample Variety Box
Chef Auzerais isn’t playing around when it comes to her blondies. Handmade and “inspired by generosity,” this blondie recipe took a decade to refine. Consider treating a loved one, a coworker or yourself to these dessert bars for the holidays. Best-selling flavors include Pecan and Salted Caramel and Brooklyn Blackout (gluten-free).
Big Shake’s Nashville Hot Chicken
(BigShakesHotChicken.com; order via GoldBelly.com)Founder: Shawn Davis
Price range: Most products range between $39-$169
Tasty pick: Crispy Crunchy Breaded Nashville Hot Wings
Southern-style fried chicken is always a crowd-pleaser. Seasoned with a special blend of herbs and spices, this chicken recipe boasts three different flavors: Original (not spicy), CryBaby (mild) and Rambo (hot). Choose between the crispy hot wings (50- or 100-pack), or one of the family meals, which serve four to eight people.
Atlas Monroe
(AtlasMonroe.com)Founder: Deborah Torres
Price range: Most products range between $11-$90
Tasty pick: Vegan Deep Fried N’ Stuffed Turkey
Vegans can get their holiday grub on, too. This plant-based food brand offers a variety of meat alternatives that could be just as satisfying as the real thing, such as Extra Crispy Fried Chick’n, Apple Wood Fired Ribs and Deep Fried N’ Stuffed Turkey — all based with non-GMO wheat.
iEatGrass
(iEatGrass.com)Founder: Ayindè Howell
Price range: Most products range between $19.99-$29.99
Tasty pick: Original Mac & Yease
Make room for the sides. Another plant-based pick, Chef Ayindè’s Original Mac & Yease is what put iEatGrass on the map. Inspired by his great-grandmother’s traditional baked mac ’n’ cheese, this recipe promises to uphold that same richness, creaminess and flavor — just “vegan-ized.”
Iya Foods
(IyaFoods.com)Founder: Toyin Kolawole
Price range: Most products range between $5-$30
Tasty pick: Gluten-Free Artisan Rosemary Bread Baking Mix
Providing “new ways to eat old favorites,” Iya Foods fuses African flavors with American cuisine. Inspired by Kolawole’s Nigerian roots, this health-focused food company offers a wide range of pantry staples, including plantain flour for holiday baking and piri-piri seasoning for an added kick of flavor to any dish.
The Salty Heifer
Co.
(TheSaltyHeifer.myshopify.com)Founder: Iesha Williams
Price range: Most products range between $25-$75
Tasty pick: Pumpkin Gingersnap with White Chocolate Sable Cookie
Cleanse your palate for something sweet, because this New York -based pastry shop may know a thing or two about some good old-fashioned baking. Known for their cookies, The Salty Heifer is always thinking up new flavors in the kitchen. They also bake vegan and gluten-free products and promise to use locally sourced and sustainable ingredients wherever they can.
Trade Street Jam Co.
(TradeStJamCo.com)Founder: Ashley Rouse
Price range: Most products range between $14-$78
Tasty pick: Strawberry Chipotle & Fig
Consider adding these vegan, low-sugar jams to your holiday charcuterie board, or gift them to a friend. With a variety of unconventional flavors like Blueberry Lemon Basil and Sour Cherry Ginger, Trade Street Jam Co. claims to make all jams by hand and promises to skip the preservatives.
Natasha's Just Brittle
(JustBrittlez.com)Founder: Natasha Wainwright
Price range: Most products range between $6-$20
Tasty pick: Chocolate Dipped Pretzels
Created by “The Brittle Queen” herself, Wainwright is blessing candy lovers everywhere with brittle galore. From chocolate-dipped potato chips sprinkled with brittle pieces, to cashew brittle clusters, you can enjoy this confection in any way. Handmade and preservative-free, this recipe claims to use fresh ingredients, such as organic sugar, nuts and sea salt.
Blondery
(blondery.com)Founder: Auzerais Bellamy
Price range: Most products range between $35-$95
Tasty pick: Sample Variety Box
Chef Auzerais isn’t playing around when it comes to her blondies. Handmade and “inspired by generosity,” this blondie recipe took a decade to refine. Consider treating a loved one, a coworker or yourself to these dessert bars for the holidays. Best-selling flavors include Pecan and Salted Caramel and Brooklyn Blackout (gluten-free).
