Two years into their City Tasting Box venture, friends and business partners Cristina McCarter and Lisa Brown are rolling out a new lineup of all-Black food artisans for 2022.
As the COVID-19 pandemic forced travel and restaurant industries to redefine hospitality and innovate new experiences, McCarter, a longtime Memphis culture and foodie enthusiast, and Brown came together in 2020 to launch City Tasting Box.
The boutique e-commerce shop curates a blend of packaged goods from famed Memphis restaurants and chefs, up-and-coming local food artisans and other Memphis-inspired crafts – all packaged in a well-designed mailer box.
Their latest creation is a limited-edition box that features a variety of Black food makers.
“Many of our local food makers are bottling and packaging food as a pivot strategy due to the pandemic’s impact on restaurant sales and in-person marketplaces,” said McCarter. “We are here to help them reach broader audiences while showcasing Memphis as a culinary mecca.”
And, said Brown, “You can continue to count on us to amplify the micro-business owner, female chefs, up-and-coming food makers, and locally-famous restaurant staples.”
McCarter and Brown bring years of experience and passion to the food industry.
The City Tasting Boxes celebrate the heritage, tenacity and resilience of Memphis’ local food scene. They invite everyone to eat locally, support Black-owned businesses and experience Memphis – all in one box.
“Our first goal with all of our boxes is to create the optimal palatable experience for each consumer by blending the perfect flavor balance of sweet, savory, salty and spicy in each box while keeping our north star in mind – highlight Memphis and tell the artisan’s story,” said McCarter.
Among the Black food makers in the limited-edition Majority box are Enjoy Pop’s Kernel 3-D popcorn, Makeda’s World-famous butter cookies, Chef Tam’s lemon pepper hot sauce, The Wing Guru Memphis dry heat pork skins, Goodness Gracious chocolate chip cookie mix, B’Chill strawberry lemonade, Spicy Z’s cajun seasoning, Hackberry Tea Co. tranquilitea tea bags, plus a Bring Your Soul Memphis t-shirt by We Are Memphis.
You can get your 2022 City Tasting Box by visiting citytastingbox.com.
