Gullah Geechee CATERING Excellence

Every time we spend money, we make a choice about what businesses, families, and communities we help sustain. As we recognize Black Business Month this August, we've been thinking about what it really means to support a Black-owned business. Of course, making a purchase matters. But support can also look like sharing a business with a friend, leaving a review, booking a service, attending an event, engaging with a social media post, or simply telling someone, "You need to check them out." There is a long history behind Black entrepreneurship in America, and one of the most powerful examples can be found in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In the early 1900s, Tulsa's Greenwood District became home to a thriving Black community filled with entrepreneurs, professionals, and families building lives for themselves despite segregation. Greenwood had Black-owned restaurants, hotels, grocery stores, theaters, salons, medical offices, and other businesses. The concentration of Black wealth and entrepreneurship became so notable that the area came to be known as Black Wall Street . What made Greenwood so powerful wasn't simply the number of Black-owned businesses. It was the community surrounding them. People supported their neighbors. Business owners employed people from the community. Money spent at one business could become income that was spent at another. In a country where segregation often prevented Black Americans from freely participating in the broader economy, communities like Greenwood created their own opportunities. That success was devastatingly interrupted during the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 , when a white mob attacked Greenwood, killing residents and destroying homes and businesses across the district. Generations of property, businesses, and wealth were lost. Yet the story of Black Wall Street isn't only a story of destruction. It's also a story about what Black entrepreneurship had already accomplished—and what the community worked to rebuild afterward. More than a century later, that part of the story still resonates with us. Owning a business can mean creating something that extends far beyond the person whose name is on the paperwork. A small business hires employees, pays other vendors, works with local professionals, supports community organizations, creates opportunities, and often opens doors for another entrepreneur coming behind them. We see that firsthand at Carolima's. When someone chooses us to cater an event, purchases one of our made-from-scratch desserts, books Sweetgrass Hall, recommends us to a friend, or simply shares our name with someone looking for a caterer, that support reaches further than one transaction. It helps us continue doing what we love while creating opportunities to work with other businesses and people throughout our community. And we're business owners, but we're customers too. Supporting Black businesses means intentionally looking around our own community and discovering the baker, photographer, restaurant owner, event planner, designer, farmer, contractor, boutique owner, or other entrepreneur who may be able to provide exactly what we're looking for. It doesn't mean that every purchase has to come from a Black-owned business. It simply means remembering that where we spend our money matters. Black Wall Street showed us what is possible when entrepreneurship, opportunity, and community come together. Black Business Month gives us an opportunity to celebrate that legacy while also recognizing the Black entrepreneurs who are building businesses right now. So this month, discover a Black-owned business you haven't tried before. Revisit one you already love. Tell somebody about them. Leave the review. Share the post. Buy the product. Book the service. Because sometimes supporting a small business feels like one simple purchase.  To the business owner, it can mean so much more.

Travel has a way of reminding you that no two places are exactly alike. Our Carolima's family recently returned from celebrating birthdays in Italy, and one of the biggest takeaways was how different each city felt. We explored six cities, and every destination had its own personality. Some places made it easy to hop in a taxi, while others required a little more patience and planning. We found ourselves riding ferries from one coastal town to the next, taking in breathtaking views and realizing that sometimes the journey is just as memorable as the destination. Of course, no trip is complete without discovering the local food. One thing we learned quickly? Naples is all about pizza—not pasta! Every region seemed to have its own specialties and traditions, which made each meal feel like a new experience. One of the highlights of our trip was taking a hands-on cooking class where we learned to make gnocchi from scratch, eggplant Parmigiano, tiramisu, and limoncello. There was something special about preparing recipes that have been passed down for generations and seeing firsthand the pride that goes into every dish. Perhaps the biggest culture shock came at the dinner table. One evening, we were ready to head to our next stop, so we asked for the check before we had finished eating. Back home, that's pretty normal. In Italy? Not so much. Our server waited until we had finished our meal before bringing the bill. It wasn't that they couldn't bring it sooner—it was simply a reminder that meals are meant to be enjoyed, not rushed. Conversation is part of the experience. The food deserves your attention. Time slows down around the table. As chefs, that lesson stayed with us. Food isn't just about what's on the plate. It's about the people you're sharing it with, the stories behind the recipes, and the traditions that have been carried from one generation to the next. Those are values we hold close at Carolima's, and it was inspiring to see them celebrated in another part of the world. Standing in another country also gave us a chance to reflect on something much bigger. Today, we're able to book a flight, explore new places, and immerse ourselves in cultures around the world. But for many African Americans, travel wasn't always that simple. Families once relied on The Negro Motorist Green Book to find safe places to eat, sleep, and refuel while traveling across the United States. What we often see as an ordinary vacation today represents opportunities that previous generations fought to make possible. That perspective made this trip even more meaningful. We returned home with full camera rolls and unforgettable memories, but we also came back with a renewed appreciation for slowing down, embracing different cultures, and never taking the freedom to explore for granted. Every destination has a story to tell, and every meal offers a glimpse into the people and traditions that make a place unique.  As we unpack our suitcases, we're reminded that the best souvenirs aren't always something you can hold in your hand. Sometimes they're the lessons you learn, the people you meet, and the memories you create along the way.