Black Restaurant Week is underway in Houston through July 19! Celebrate the flavors from the Black culinary community during this showcase and dine at participating Black-owned restaurants offering special menus. Restaurants include spots like Five Central, known for their incredible Fannie Mae’s Famous Fried Chicken. Learn more about this restaurant and hear from Chef Keenan Williams about why he loves what he does.
- How long have you been in business?
If I had to put a number of years to it it would be 17 years professionally. But I’ve been in the kitchen since I was about six years old. Five Central has been in business about two years.
- What were your driving forces to get into the restaurant business?
To be honest I never really thought about it in depth. I’ve been blessed with opportunity to get up every day and do something I love. Where most people go to work and punch a clock for a check, I get to create something everyday and give it to the masses.
- What advice do you have for those that are looking to have a career in food service?
I would tell anybody looking to get into industry to be patient, learn something everyday and don’t be afraid to punch the limits and be different. It will pay off.
- What is one of your popular dishes? What inspired that dish?
The most popular dish here is Fannie Mae’s Famous Fried Chicken. It’s a dish I can’t take total credit for because the recipes belong to my late grandmother, rest her beautiful soul. It’s my homage to her soulful cooking and the Sundays I spent in the kitchen with her. As far as the recipe goes, that’s a family secret.
- What is one of your popular drinks?
The D’Jango Daiquiri (We got the recipe!)
- What do you love about Sysco?
I love Sysco because they are an extended part of my team. I spend a lot of time with people I work with and they are like family, so I guess you could say Sysco is a part of that family.
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