Meet Kahja Elliott | Food Enthusiast, Podcast Host, & Culinary Traveler

It happened so organically! During the pandemic, I stumbled across a non-profit (HOPE Academy) that teaches behavioral science-based entrepreneurial theory and started attending the class online. When restrictions were lifted and we were able to attend in person, I came into fellowship with such an amazing group of talented creators across so many disciplines of business! It was within that group that I had budding conversations about turning my passion into a business model centered around food and food culture, discovering the heart of places through that lens.

Cities, especially urban ones, and particularly Oakland, have such a rich culture of not just food and restaurants, but also artisans and makers and people advancing conversation about cultural foodways, not to mention a community that’s dialed in at a high level to enjoying and sharing all the Bay has to offer, and this later became the impetus for launching The As Told By Podcast!

So while the origin of Kay In The Bay was a way for me to marry my personal passions with entrepreneurship, it’s grown to become an amazing opportunity to build a community and bring them along for the ride as I explore food and culture in all of its aspects in the Bay Area and beyond!

Coming from a 15 year career in corporate environments, particularly HR, I had what I felt was an advantage of understanding systems of efficiency. Templates, comms strategies, timeline management, systems of record, etc. It made the logistical process really easy, however, what I knew about branding, marketing, and approaching business in a creative space could fit on the back of a stamp! They definitely are not the same thing, and oddly enough, the things that make you successful in one environment can definitely thwart your efforts in the other…I’m always cognizant of not over anchoring too much in one or the other!

I do believe however, that having a foot in both worlds has been such a gift, because I can pull from each to enhance how I show up in both. I’ve definitely grown in my ability to receive feedback and to be curious, and I’ve had to challenge myself to always be questioning what I see and hear, but also what I believe, and how I can best serve the people who’ve come along on this journey. I also was always drawn to shows like Biography, MTV’s Diary, Behind The Music, etc. because they’re the stories about who people actually are, and how they developed and harnessed and grew from things, the good and bad, in the forward trajectory of their life and career. I love that we each have a story. And listening to (and now talking through on the podcast) people’s stories allows them to remember just how far they’ve come, which helps me to remember the same.

While the food content and podcast space is super crowded, there’s a platform we each can create that’s unique to who we are and how we see the world….so the emergence of my brand has been based around finding my community of folks, and creating value for them around the various ways they experience food and culture. I’m meeting people whose work I’m a huge fan of. I’m traveling to places specifically to have conversations and eat! And I’m enjoying every minute of it.

Oooh, this is easy!! For really creative, well prepared dishes in a casual setting, Good Luck Gato in Oakland is top of mind for me right now! When I’m in the mood for fresh and tasty plant-based food, I hit up Roasted and Raw. My TSOC (“Taco Spot of Choice”) is Tacos El Gordo in San Leandro! Fresh and Best Cafe 2 is my go-to spot for what I think is the best Banh Mi in Oakland, and Itria SF has one of the most sleek and delicious menus I’ve enjoyed in a minute, while Timeless Cafe has a nostalgic Chocodile that’ll make you swear it’s 1985 again! I haven’t hit up Filoli Gardens yet, but I hear its gorgeous this time of year and I’d recommend it sight unseen and will be checking it out very soon! There’s always something happening at Lake Merritt, and Black Girls Greenhouse and Oaktown Spice Shop are great spots for folks looking to support local Bay Area businesses!

I want to give the biggest shout out to my family of fellow entrepreneurs at HOPE Academy, and especially to Nana Kofi Nti and Court Smith, who teach and lead this group with so much heart and candor and authenticity! The things I’ve learned from them , and from the group as a whole have been so formative in my approach in developing Kay In The Bay as an emerging brand.

I’d also love to thank my friend MarQuita, who said to me over brunch 2 1/2 years ago, “you really light up when you talk about food; have you ever considered making that your business?” Trust me, there was a whole other idea brewing that shall remain nameless…LOL! But that conversation sent me down a road that would eventually become food content, pop-up dinners, podcasting, and food travel, and I really am so grateful to all the folks, particularly in the Bay where this was conceived, who attend my events, download the podcast episodes, lend technical expertise that helps me to grow my processes (like TK at Diff Works!), and carry my name into spaces where there are opportunities for growth. I want Kay In The Bay to be something that belongs to all of us.