Skip to content
Search
Cuisine Noir Magazine
Support Our Work - Donate
Support Our Work - Donate
  • Food & Drink
  • Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • Recipes
  • Book Grub
  • Events
  • Marketplace
  • Print
  • Podcast
  • More
    • The Culinary Scoop (blog)
    • Black Wineries
    • Videos
    • CN Review
    • Donate
Cuisine Noir Magazine
  • Food & Drink
  • Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • Recipes
  • Book Grub
  • CN Review
  • Marketplace
  • Print
  • The Culinary Scoop (blog)
  • Events
  • Black Wineries
  • Videos
Support Our Work - Donate
Support Our Work - Donate
Search
Cuisine Noir Magazine
Support Our Work - Donate
Support Our Work - Donate
  • Food & Drink
  • Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • Recipes
  • Book Grub
  • Events
  • Marketplace
  • Print
  • Podcast
  • More
    • The Culinary Scoop (blog)
    • Black Wineries
    • Videos
    • CN Review
    • Donate
Cuisine Noir Magazine
  • Food & Drink
  • Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • Recipes
  • Book Grub
  • CN Review
  • Marketplace
  • Print
  • The Culinary Scoop (blog)
  • Events
  • Black Wineries
  • Videos
Support Our Work - Donate
Support Our Work - Donate

Vanessa Bell Calloway Shares Good Food Through Entertaining in Web Series

Vanessa Bell Calloway entertaining at home
Pictured/Photo credit: Vanessa Bell Calloway
July 2, 2014
V. Sheree Williams
Share this article
       

Looking at our “queen to be,” Vanessa Bell Calloway, entertaining among friends looks so easy.  The dancer, actress, host, wife, and mother may juggle a variety of roles but when it comes to cooking a great meal and planning a great gathering in the company of her friends, she is a natural pro.

Growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, Calloway was thinking more about axel turns and pirouettes than pots and pans and seasonings.  While attending Ohio University, she danced on a scholarship with the Alvin Ailey Dance Company during the summers.  She returned to New York after college with big dreams of being picked up by a dance company and in the meantime worked in retail to support herself.  

“One of my first jobs was at Lord & Taylor and I worked in the china department.  Most people thought that was boring, I loved it.  I was in heaven.  I would go around and feel the china and look at the linens and envision me having all of these things one day,” says Calloway.

Exploring china and linens wasn’t the only thing that New York introduced her to. Being from a typical Midwest family, meals didn’t necessarily represent global cuisine like she enjoys cooking today. “When I got to New York and I got a chance to experiment, I’ll never forget the first time I had lobster.  I was in my 20s before I had certain foods because a lot of that stuff my mother didn’t buy and we didn’t go out to restaurants and have stuff like that.”

This “Big Apple” experience was the start of her appreciation and enjoyment of good food.

A Star on Camera and in the Kitchen

Moving from New York to Los Angeles, she landed roles on soap operas (“All My Children”) and in movies.  To this day, we can't forget her iconic role in “Coming to America” as Imani Izzi, the princess who was to marry Prince Akeem played by Eddie Murphy.

While she sharpened her acting skills and built an impressive acting resume, she also added foodie and entertaining guru to her list of accolades hosting fabulous gatherings for family and friends.  Inspired to create her own show that combined her passion for cooking and entertaining, “In the Company of Friends,” first aired on TV One several years ago and has since moved to a full season of webisodes online at www.inthecompanyoffriends.tv.

RELATED: Luxury: Design Inspired By a Feeling

Just in conversation, you can feel how much she enjoys her hosting duties that take place several times a year and usually at her house. “I like detail.  I think the more detail, the prettier it is and the more the guests appreciate it.  So when I am entertaining, I don’t do everything in a day. It is impossible. Even if I am having a dinner party for six, I don’t do everything that day.  I at least start a day before,” says Calloway.

“I walk through my house as if I am a guest to see what the guest sees. And then I go, ‘Let me fix that over there, a candle would be nice there, I need to move this over there, more flowers should go right there.’ I become my guest and I walk through my house as a guest several times while I am setting up.”

She even knows how to get creative, using every inch of space she has.  She converted her garage which now serves as the food hub for big occasions such as Thanksgiving and knows how to flip her laundry room into a bar when necessary.

In her kitchen, you will most likely see her must-haves which include kosher salt, flavored peppers, olive oil, fresh garlic and garlic powder.

In the refrigerator, she keeps homemade vinegar that is made with rosemary, garlic and jalapenos and a marinade with freshly squeezed lemons and olive oil to taste on hand to brush across veggies before putting them on the grill.

In her wine bar and at the dinner table, you will most likely find a crisp pinot grigio and sauvignon blanc.

Food, Entertaining and Vanessa

Returning last month from the American Black Film Festival in New York, “In the Company of Friends,” was selected among thousands of entries as a finalist for the festival's webisode challenge.  The full first season, “The Dinner Party,” features Calloway with celebrity friends enjoying one of her favorite meals while dishing on topics such as what is your guilty pleasure and what flaw have you worked to your advantage. 

Season 2, “The Tea Party,” will be released this month and between now and Monday, July 7, fans can go online and post their version of her webisode as part of the “In the Company You Keep” contest for a chance to have their video shown on the website as well as be a guest on Calloways’ blog talk show, “That’s So Very Vanessa!”

RELATED: Sheila Bridges: Designing Dreams and Dining with Style

For season 3, you may find her in Italy which is one of her favorite spots. “My dream is to go to Italy and do a cooking vacation.  I love Italy and the food there is to die for if you really know where to go. I have been there three times and I am really trying to get back.”

For more information about Vanessa Bell Calloway’s upcoming projects, visit her personal website at www.vanessabellcalloway.com and to watch episodes of “In the Company of Friends,” visit www.inthecompanyoffriends.tv.

  • Celebrity chef and The Great Soul Food Cook-Off Champion Razia Sabour
    under Black Chefs , Food & Drink Celebrity Chef Razia Sabour Honors Soul Food’s History with Competition Win
  • under Etiquette Etiquette in Public Places
  • LaTocha Scott-Bivens - Xcape’s and vegan enthusiast
    under Food & Drink Why Xcape’s LaTocha Scott-Bivens Wants to “Veganize” Your Menu
  • Soul Food Restaurants by Felicia owners Joselino Neto Lima de Barros, Feliciana de Ceita Neto de Lima and Jose Feliciano Lima de Barros
    under Black Chefs , Food & Drink A Mother’s Dream Inspires Soul Food Restaurant by Felicia in Lisbon
Share this article
V. Sheree Williams

Sheree has been penning stories since the fifth grade. Her stories took a delicious and adventurous turn as an adult when she became a foodie.

Related Articles

Loading...
Lifestyle

Tips on Throwing a Successful Dinner Party

Bay area entrepreneur Shonda Scott
Lifestyle

Food and Family are Recipe to Shonda Scott’s Community Connections

Lifestyle

Cuisine Noir Celebrates 10-Year Milestone

Be the first to know about the latest online, industry updates, world news, events and promotions that connect the African diaspora through food, drink and travel.

    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertising
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertising

    #IAmCuisineNoir

    This site participates in affiliate programs. See our full disclosure for more information.

    Copyright© 2023 Cuisine Noir and The Global Food and Drink Initiative. Privacy
    Site by ACS Digital

    Any unauthorized duplication, download or reprint of images or content from this website for promotional or commercial use is strictly prohibited without written permission from The Global Food and Drink Initiative. Violators will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Trademark pending.

    YES!  We’re excited you are signing up too!  

    Get ready to receive our weekly newsletter about:

    • New articles online
    • World news and industry happenings throughout the African Diaspora
    • Mouthwatering recipes
    • Promotions and giveaways

    Right in your inbox!