Black History Month Catering in Oakland and the Bay Area
Your program deserves food with as much thought behind it as the speakers and the stories. Blackberry Soul brings soul food to Black History Month lunches, receptions and community gatherings.
We are a Black-owned, woman-owned catering company founded by Chef Rene Johnson in Oakland. Her story of building the company from her grandmother’s recipes has been featured by Business Insider, Forbes and EBONY.
Who we cater for
Employee resource groups and people teams, schools and campuses, museums and cultural organizations, nonprofits, civic offices, churches and member networks. Common events include employee lunches, speaker receptions, panel dinners, student programs and community celebrations.
Two ways to book
Drop-off delivery. Choose a set menu on Book it now, see your total and pay online. We deliver and set up the food. Standard warming setup, serving utensils, dish labels and compostable plates, napkins and cutlery are included, and there is nothing to return.
Custom and staffed events. Start with Request a Date and tell us what you know so far. Our team can help with custom menus, setup, service staff, rentals and teardown, and we will send a proposal for your event.
What clients say
“Blackberry Soul is the flavor of your grandmothers’ cooking: delicious, bright, wholesome food that makes you feel at home wherever you are.”
Marcus Hanning, repeat client
“Blackberry Soul has catered several Chamber community gatherings and events, and their performance has been nothing short of exceptional.”
C. Adams, Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce
“The feedback I received from both students and our team has been overwhelmingly positive, and I’m incredibly grateful for the care and pride you brought to this project.”
Andy Harrop, Black Girls Code, Summer Camp
Questions and answers
Where do you cater? Throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and Wine Country, including Oakland, the East Bay, San Francisco, the Peninsula, Silicon Valley, Marin, Napa and Sonoma. Book it now delivers to a smaller area than our custom events. If your address is outside it, request a date and we will let you know what is possible.
Can you feed vegan and vegetarian guests? Yes. Vegetarian, vegan and plant-based choices are available.
Can you work with allergies? Share allergies and dietary needs during planning, and we make every reasonable effort to accommodate them. Our food is prepared in a kitchen that also handles tree nuts, peanuts, dairy, eggs, wheat, soy, sesame, fish and shellfish. We are not a nut-free facility, and we cannot guarantee that any dish is free of these allergens.
Can the menu fit our program? Yes. For custom and staffed events, we build the menu around your event, your guests, the season, your service style and any dietary needs. If you’d rather order a set menu, Book it now lets you choose one and pay online.
How soon should we reach out? As early as you can, especially for events that need staff or rentals. When you inquire, we will tell you honestly what your timing allows.
Tell us about your program
You don’t need every detail figured out. Share what you know, and we will take it from there.