When Naomi Lake took a break from teaching early in the pandemic, she had no clue her forays into cooking, a longtime love of hers, would lead to starting her own catering business, Kathy’s Kitchen BX.
While tutoring part-time, Lake started spending more time in her maternal grandmother’s kitchen. It was there that she had first learned to cook, at age 10, using West Indian spices: Scotch bonnet, thyme, and pimento seeds. She would watch her grandmother make basic dishes like corned beef and rice and fried dumplings.
“I loved it — it’s a challenge learning how to knead the flour,” Lake said. “You have to have the movements and know how much water, how much flour [to put in].”
In 2021, she began selling food she made at that same kitchen, with her friends as her first customers. Knowing she wasn’t working full-time, they supported her and helped spread the word. Lake named her business Kathy’s Kitchen as a tribute to her grandmother, Kathleen.
As interest grew, Lake’s younger sister introduced her to the James Baldwin Outdoor Learning Center (JBOLC) Farmers Market, which is mostly vegan. Though hesitant at first, she decided to give it a try.
Her vegan food — offered primarily at the JBOLC Farmers Market — has gained a solid following, and she still also offers non-vegan food for other customers.
“What brings me the most joy is when people come back and say they can taste the love in my food,” Lake said. “I don’t like cooking when I’m not in a good mood, so I make sure to create a positive space for myself.”
This focus on quality and care has translated into rave reviews from her customers, who often remark on how they feel “satisfied but not weighed down” after eating her food. This response has cemented Lake’s belief that good food is about more than taste — it’s about how it nourishes the body.
Her strong customer base, fueled by word-of-mouth recommendations, has been instrumental in growing Kathy’s Kitchen BX. “They’re already placing my restaurant that I don’t even have yet,” she said, laughing. “Someone said the West Bronx … they said there’s a lot of fast food around there, and they would love something like Kathy’s Kitchen to be over there.”
Lake’s vision for Kathy’s Kitchen BX is ambitious but grounded in the values that matter most to her: providing healthy, nourishing food, and maintaining a strong connection to her community. She envisions a future where her business continues to expand, with a brick-and-mortar spot and eventually multiple restaurant locations and a trusted team that supports her growth.
In addition to food, Kathy’s Kitchen BX also offers eco-friendly glassware at the farmers market. She started this facet of the business last July.

Despite the full-time demands of running her business, Lake recently returned to the classroom. Teaching helps with the business in terms of knowing how to nurture people, she says. Lake had also been educating her customers, in a way — posting her recipes and sharing cooking tips online.
Though balancing both her business and teaching can be a challenge, Lake remains focused on finding that elusive work-life balance. “I want to be an entrepreneur who has it all together—business, self-care, family life, and teaching,” she said. “But it’s about learning to accept help when it’s offered and creating systems that work for me.”
Lake’s passion for cooking, coupled with her dedication to her community, keeps her going.
“That’s what having a small business means to me — just having integrity and knowing that the people are what drives you forward, … [making] food that’s good for you, that’s good to the belly,” she said.
Follow on Instagram at @kathyskitchenbx
Browse and order online at https://www.kathyskitchenbx.com/
Visit her Saturdays at the James Baldwin Outdoor Learning Center through November
Text 646-580-1049
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