Today we’d like to introduce you to Reggie and Stanette Bright.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
(Chef Stanette): Since about the age of eight years old, I can remember clear as day my father, Stanford Loving (rest in power), teaching me how to start, operate, and run a business. From ordering supplies to stocking shelves, making the best hoagies, and paying delivery vendors who serviced our various locations.
My father established multiple businesses throughout New Jersey. He was the perfect image of a certified entrepreneur and my role model. My father owned grocery stores, a produce location, and three lunch trucks. With his guidance and training, I was able to run his grocery stores and produce location while he was out daily on his lunch truck serving customers. I’d help him prepare the food every morning. My father taught me the business aspect of running an establishment.
Now, where did I get my cooking and catering skills from? It was my grandmother, my mother, and my aunt. I enjoyed watching these ladies cook and I remember always being observant when I was allowed around the kitchen. Other than that, I really developed my own way of cooking, remembering that presentation is EVERYTHING!
(Chef Reggie): I started cooking at the age of 16 years old watching and learning from my father, mother, and grandmother. My father, Leon H. Bright (rest in power), was a real “CHEF” in the kitchen. His cooking technique was superb! He moved in the kitchen with patience, skill, and everything he cooked was made with LOVE.
Cooking became my forte because my father always had me helping him cook for our family reunions each year with over 500 family members from Lawtey, Florida and surrounding areas. Bright men are known for their country-soul cooking skills where I’m from. Our family reunions were epic events with every soulful dish and dessert you could think of – I’m talking greens, macaroni and cheese, oxtails, fried turkeys, potato salad, baked chicken, oyster dressing, fried fish, okra, and his specialty, perlo rice and chicken, just to name a few. After being trained by my father, who was the best, I grew from being his rookie (the youngest of 5) to become the chef I am today.
My main goal someday is to be nominated for the “James Beard Award” for my delicious food prepared with Bright family love for our customers.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
(Chef Stanette) In retrospect, there were many obstacles and challenges that we had no idea we’d have to overcome when venturing into possibly opening our own restaurant. My husband, Chef Reggie, was “on go!” and ready to dive right in. Like, we had no money saved to start a business. We had no idea of all the paperwork that would be required to operate a licensed business in Clayton County (took weeks to get everything right with health department, fire department, etc.).
But with just a leap of faith and determination, Chef Reggie retired from his current 9-5 position after learning that his boss was taking advantage of him. This certainly made my husband uncomfortable and he decided that he could put in the same amount of effort or more and work for himself. I still worked as an alcohol investigator to put more time into building and planning for our own business. After weeks of conversations and planning, I leaped with my husband and we took a chance to bet on ourselves and opened Bright Country Cooking.
As you know, we’re big fans of Bright Country Cooking. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Me, my Wife and Son started this venture together and are very proud to be a Black-Owned Restaurant in Metro Atlanta. We are very pleased with only being open for 8 weeks, and already “Bright Country Cooking” is a 5-star soul food restaurant in the state of Georgia.
We strive to bring our customers the freshest ingredients (no can products) and most flavorful soul food at our country cooking restaurant. Whether they visit us at H-Mart in Riverdale on Highway 85 or use Doordash, Bright Country Cooking is THE place “Where We Put a Smile on Your Plate”!
Pricing:
- $5-$23.99
Contact Info:
- Website: https://brightcountrycooking.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/brightcountrycooking
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brightcountrycooking
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/bright-country-cooking-riverdale
Image Credits
Bright Country Cooking, LLC
