About BelleJohns'
WHAT MAKES US SO GREAT
Coming from a family of nine, the girls in my family had to participate in cooking for all holidays and Lee's (my mother) catering business which was blessed enough to be in business for 25 years before she retired.
While a student at NJIT, I was asked to make deviled eggs for the dinners we were selling in college to raise money for our organization (NSBE), and I started catering from there.
Even though my background is in engineering and my degree is in building and construction, I still have always had a passion for cooking. It's all the same to me, numbers and mixing. No matter how you see it, you are creating something amazing! In engineering, numbers and mixing creates unbelievable structures, and in cooking, numbers and mixing creates mouth watering dishes. I have a love for both but right now, I choose food (smile).
BelleJohns' Soul Food was born in April of 2016 do to a heart breaking failure of Lee's House restaurant, about six years earlier. After mending my heart, paying off all my creditors, saving every penny I could, a lot of research, and help from the SBA and David, (the head of the small business center at Kean University, Union, NJ), I started BelleJohns' (big huge smile!)
All Blessings, for we are truly loved by the one above!
A big thank you!
I must say "thank you" to Melissa, the coordinator of the South Orange farmers market. She fought for a year to get me into the market and helped me every step of the way, from paperwork to all the right people to call and hound. This was my very first market and how I got on the map in NJ. When everyone else said "NO" to me and my one, little electric house skillet, Melissa found a way to make South Orange say, "YES"! Thank you so much Melissa, you are a true sister and queen!
Time to give back
The way we give our thanks is not only by saying "thank you" but also by showing it.
We appreciate all of the love and support our community has given us. It's time for us to give back. We host a Fish Fry every year for a community or organization in need of love and support. For the past two years we have hosted a gluten free "fish fry" (at our expense) for a school in need of raising funds. 100 percent of all proceeds raised go to the school.
We cook at a discount for the city of Newark, Soup kitchen 411, to help provide over 300 homeless with healthy baked chicken lunches.
We also donated lunch to Roselle sanitation department and to Newark Beth Israel Hospital during the shut down due to COVID.
If you know of a school or community that is deserving of genuine love and support, please, get in touch.
JEWEL AND HER TEAM DID AN AMAZING JOB CATERING OUR ANNUAL FAMILY REUNION. EVERYONE LOVED THE FOOD AND I RECEIVED COMPLIMENTS ALL DAY LONG. I WILL DEFINITELY HIRE BELLEJOHNS' FOR ALL MY CATERING NEEDS IN THE FUTURE.
Mary JonesLive Cooking Demonstrations Coming Soon!
COME COOK WITH JEWEL OF BELLEJOHNS'
They will be announced on Instagram, and on Facebook, so follow us!
Cooking Demonstrations • One-on-One • Group Class • Couples Class
We can create a customized dietary plan just for your specific needs or prep your meals fresh for you and you cook it (cooking instructions included.) We can do everything for you and deliver it to your door!
Send us a text, an email, or give us a call. We are sure there is something we can whip up for you and your family.
Contact us
Order online or text your order to (201) 341-3393
We accept debit/credit cards, Apple Pay, CashApp, and cash payments. Please note that we only cook Friday - Sunday.