Mother-daughter duo Cheryl and Sarah of Mama Cheryl’s Kitchen are bringing the flavors of New Orleans and the South to New York City all summer long. At their weekend pop-up events, they’re serving classics like mac & cheese and BBQ chicken and soulful spins like Cajun deviled eggs and Creole peach crostinis. For dessert, Cheryl and Sarah are baking cornbread cookies, chocolate chip biscuits, and mini strawberry shortcakes.
Cheryl’s passion for cooking began as a child in New Orleans, where she learned from her father, who worked as a cook at several neighborhood eateries. From a young age, Cheryl was regularly cooking for her family and soon dreamed of having her own food business.
Those dreams first took shape when Cheryl opened her first bakery from her home kitchen. As demand for her baking grew, she quickly encountered the limitations of a small production space. When her daughter, Sarah, moved to New York City, Cheryl saw an opportunity to dream bigger. Building on their family’s culinary traditions, the mother-daughter duo decided to launch a business together, bringing the flavors of their New Orleans roots to the Big Apple.
“For me, having a family business means sharing tradition. Eventually this business will come down to Sarah and our family, and they can keep it going long after I’m gone.”
— Cheryl, Co-founder of Mama Cheryl’s Kitchen
Once in New York, Cheryl and Sarah sought support to grow their business. They joined Hot Bread Kitchen’s Seed program in 2025. Seed, our program for early-stage entrepreneurs, helped turn their business idea into a viable business model. When Mama Cheryl’s outgrew their home kitchen, they turned again to Hot Bread Kitchen for guidance on where to go next. The team worked to match Cheryl and Sarah with a commercial kitchen space that met their needs and budget.
“We were able to improve our business plan thanks to the Seed program. A key takeaway we learned is that when unforeseen circumstances arise, or new ideas come up, you have to revisit your business plan every single time. ”
— Sarah, Co-founder of Mama Cheryl’s Kitchen
Today you can find this mother-daughter duo popping up across Brooklyn. They are focused on growing their catering business and continuing to bring the flavors of the Big Easy to the Big Apple!
Upcoming Pop-ups:
- Fridays in Bensonhurst at 18th Avenue and 64th Street, Brooklyn, from 2 pm to 6 pm
- Saturdays right outside the Brooklyn Central Public Library from 9 am to 6 pm.
- In September, find them at 854 68th St, Brooklyn from 9am to 3pm on the 19th and at 114 Bay Ridge Avenue, Brooklyn from 2 pm to 7 pm on the 20th.
Follow them on Instagram to place a catering order and for updates on where they’ll be popping up next!
