Belong Kitchen offers paycheck, ‘dignity’ for adults with disabilities
Memorial City eatery boasts 30 employees and even more volunteers, including local celebrity chefs.
Located at 9655 Katy Fwy, Belong Kitchen originally began in Brown’s backyard, during the coronavirus pandemic. Along with her daughter Ellie, Brown and other family members would would cook homemade meals from her home kitchen, taking orders and selling through Instagram on Sunday nights. For Kim, Ellie was actually the inspiration behind the entire operation.
“She has developmental delays … and unfortunately, after high school, there just aren’t a lot of opportunities for adults [with developmental delays],” Kim said. In addition, Kim said, much of the provisions for individuals with developmental delays focuses heavily on educational support during childhood.
“Employment … really hasn’t been addressed yet,” Kim said. “Something like 80 percent of adults with developmental delays or intellectual differences are unemployed and it’s even worse in Texas.”
In 2019, Ellie was a junior at Memorial High School nearby. With the prospect of graduation close, Kim started researching opportunities for Ellie, who enjoyed attending a culinary class in school. Pointing to Ellie’s interest in cooking and Kim’s own abilities as a homecook, the Browns naturally started looking at the food industry.
In their home kitchen, Kim and Ellie would practice new and old recipes, honing their skills while selling their meals to neighbors in the community. Soon, word spread and a network flourished.
“We had met several other families with similarly situated young adults,” Kim said.
Ellie and Kim were soon joined by seven other employees, who all worked from the Brown home kitchen.
On the side, Kim visited brick-and-mortar locations and started fundraising for a larger, permanent space that could accommodate more people. Additionally, Kim made sure to visit other non-profit entities in the food industry, such as Howdy Homemade Ice Cream, to research how a similar model could work.
Belong Kitchen officially opened in September 2021, alongside the popular Memorial branch of Tiny’s Milk and Cookies. Today, Belong employs 30 employees, as well as 75 regular volunteers.
“It was important to us that they earn a paycheck and have the dignity that comes with that,” Kim said. “I want people to come in…and see my daughter and the employees and begin to expect that they should see them in society…They are capable and deserve to be incorporated.”
To further grow her employees’ skills, local chefs often volunteer at Belong Kitchen, hosting classes and demonstrating new recipes. Past participants have included chefs José and Lily Arévalo from Brennan’s of Houston, as well as Johnny Carrabba, of the Carrabba’s restaurants.
On the food side, Belong Kitchen’s rotates a circulating menu of grab-and-go family meals ranging from King Ranch casserole to tacos. The restaurant offers desserts, lunch and dinner meals, as well as catering services.
Equipped with more than just meals, Brown knows that Belong is bigger than its brick-and-mortar space.
“I think there should be a Belong for every community.”
Born and raised in Houston, Erica is Chron’s Food Reporter and loves finding hidden gems throughout the city.
