OUR STORy
COMMUNION is a place where you feel seen. A place that feels like comfort, rest, relief, and peace. Our mission is to provide the food, the familiarity, and the intimacy that make you feel at home.
chef kristi brown, owner
“Everybody’s Gotta Eat!”
Chef Kristi Brown has spooned her way through the culinary industry for the past 28 years. Starting at a small café in downtown Seattle, Kristi has done just about everything from dishwasher/prep cook to running her own catering business for nearly a decade. From the beginning, her vision was to focus on the art and experience of food through culinary activism. A purpose powered by her mantra, “Everybody’s Gotta Eat!” Chef Kristi desires to build community through the cultivation of fresh food and fine cooking.
Proceeding the completion of the culinary program at Seattle Central College, Chef Kristi immersed herself in the culinary industry, procuring experiences at Plenty Cafe, Nordstrom Catering, Kingfish Café, and Tuxedo & Tennis Shoes Catering, where she built a solid foundation for growth. She then moved into leadership roles as opening Kitchen Manager at Café Starbucks and Head Chef at Zinnia Bistro.
Equipped with a wealth of experience and knowledge, Chef Kristi opened That Brown Girl Catering (TBGC) in 1999. TBGC operated as a full-service catering company; providing breakfast, lunch, and dinner for community events, corporate functions, non-profit meetings, and private parties. TBGC became synonymous with quality, bold flavors, and customer satisfaction. She nurtured a culture of healthy wholesome eating, while maintaining spice, and vivacity. After 10 years of operation, Chef Kristi sought to journey into disparate culinary avenues. This resulted in the closing of TBGC’s doors in 2009.Currently, Chef Kristi is lovingly referred to as Chef Goddess of That Brown Girl Cooks!, a food, culture, and community organization. Simply put, she calls it a “Culinary Collective.” TBGC! explores her inspirations, melds them with her experiences, and brings them back to the communities she serves. Debuting a variety of products, events, pop-ups, classes, and media presence, she hopes to engage and inspire community and connect people with a wholesome and nurturing lifestyle.
Damon Bomar, Owner, General Manager
My passion for hospitality began early — long before I ever stepped behind a bar or into a dining room. I was deeply inspired by When Harlem Was in Vogue by David Levering Lewis, a book that illuminated how the Harlem Renaissance used art, food, and gathering spaces to fuel cultural rebirth. That story shaped how I see this work: I’ve always believed that for any community to thrive, there must first be places where people can gather, share stories, and feel seen.
My journey began peeling sweet potatoes for a neighborhood business called Mrs. Davis’ Pies. My mother, Chef Kristi Brown, wanted me to learn the value of discipline and urgency under another entrepreneur, so she sent me to work there. From there, I went on to wash dishes at Island Soul and later worked as a barista at Dilettante Mocha Café — each experience shaping how I understand service, pace, and connection. Those early years taught me that hospitality is about care, intention, and community.
I went on to study Hospitality Management at Howard University, where I secured my first restaurant job and was introduced to the craft of bartending. While I grew up in the kitchen, bartending became my creative outlet — a space where I could connect with people while exploring flavor, culture, and storytelling through the glass. Over time, I worked for several restaurant groups across D.C., holding various positions across the restaurant. Those experiences deepened my understanding of both the art and business of hospitality, and deepened my desire to build something of my own.
In 2015, I returned home to Seattle to join my mother in growing our family business, That Brown Girl Cooks! What began as a small food brand has evolved into a full-service catering company built around community, culture, and care. In December 2020, we opened COMMUNION Restaurant & Bar, a nationally recognized space where food, storytelling, and Seattle Soul meet. Shortly after, I launched Brown Liquor Cocktail Co., a creative cocktail and bar catering brand that celebrates the craft and culture of the beverage world.
At the heart of everything I do is a simple belief: hospitality is culture in motion. It’s how we honor our history, feed our communities, and create spaces where people feel a sense of belonging — one meal, one story, one moment at a time.
“I was deeply inspired by When Harlem Was in Vogue by David Levering Lewis, a book that illuminated how the Harlem Renaissance used art, food, and gathering spaces to fuel cultural rebirth.”
-Damon Bomar, Co-Owner