Comments on: Soul (Preview) – Hollywood, CA – Wednesday, October 8, 2008

By: Lynn Jakoby

Lynn Jakoby — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:20:42 +0000

Hi Yealang. Well, your dream’s almost come true. Just a few more months. Hold on tight, the train is gaining speed.
Looking forward to enjoying your food in your new beautiful place. Hugs, Lynn

By: Moné

Moné — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 09:22:49 +0000

Hello Cousin, I see you are doing it big like we know how to do it. Keep up the marvelous work. I’m proud of you. You know my stomach is ready for that gumbo. I can’t wait until your lil cousins (my grandkids get a taste of your delicious food. So when is the next family gathering so that I can be their little tummies to get their first taste of their big cousins food. Well love ya!! Keep up the wonderful work. Love always your cousin Moné

By: TA

TA — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 05:28:38 +0000

As one of Chef Yealang’s roommates during college, I was privvy to her awesome creations long before ThrowDown,Soul Folks and SOUL! WHO KNEW that her preparation of scrumptious dishes then was merely practice for an incredible future in culinary arts!

During a visit to Los Angeles, a number of my family members (most of whom are from S.C. and know a thing or two about cooking great soul food) joined YEA for brunch at Soul Folks and they’re STILL raving about the experience. Even after having dined at quite a few posh restaurants over three days, all of them indicated that Soul Folks was THE BEST – hands down! Everyone’s planning to head out for the SOUL Hollywood experience.

Those of you who have not exposed your taste buds to the Chef’s amazing dishes should jump in line AS SOON AS you become aware of SOULs opening date. You’re in for a treat! The food is pleasing to the palate, the music rocks, and Shamala’s art is truly FAB-U-LOUS!

By: TonyC

TonyC — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 21:28:23 +0000

wow.. so much love and support behind the chef. love that. peach cobbler here i come… but please hold the soy mac n cheese.

By: mattatouille

mattatouille — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 07:37:21 +0000

phew! long comments, but dang that soul food looks DANG good. nice post.

By: Lillie Siplin

Lillie Siplin — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:58:50 +0000

I am Yealang’s adopted Auntie and have followed her develoopment and growth into the absolutely astonishing and beautiful human being that she is and continues to be.
Every ingredient in the various foods that she prepares speaks to her genius in thought, care and preparation.

She fooled me because I thought that she would become that exceptional attorney or veterinarian that she talked about while growing up. However, Yealang’s tenaciousness far exceeded those dreams and now she exemplifies that if you follow your deepest dreams, the universe will assist you in bringing them to fruition. Yealang has unquestionably entered into the beautiful world of creative, culinary arts. The food she prepares is by far the best in the country—and that statement is not made just because she is my niece. Every person that I have talked with (and there are many) who have experienced Yealang’s cuisine express resounding satisfaction.

Not only is her cuisine outstanding and stands above and beyond the rest, Yealang consciously brings customer care to each and every person that she serves in her establishment with a posture of graciousness, gratitude, gratefulness, laughter, and personal thoughts of care. She does not demonstrate grandiosity, only style and concern. Needless to say, I am more than proud of her as well as to be her Auntie.

Try it! (SOUL) I guarantee you’ll like it! I don’t profess to anything that I don’t believe in or have not experienced first hand.

Lillie Siplin, Clinical Therapist

By: Shamala Bennu Auset

Shamala Bennu Auset — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 21:03:55 +0000

Soul Folks! ThrownDown Catering!SOUL! are all facets of Yealang’s remarkable talents in the culinary arts. Before Yealang Smith graduated from Howard University with a degree in Political Science, she had already been inducted into the Home Arts:decorating, designing, cooking by our ancestors. As her cousin Erica said,: We come from a long line of great cooks.” After college Yealang worked as an event planner and realized how much money was spent on food, its production, preparation and delivery. She enjoyed involvement in the whole process. Followong her bliss Ms. “Soul Folks” started her catering business, “Throwdown Catering” in my dinner room. Yealang cooked herself out of the house after cooking up two ovens for her bludgeoning business. She moved to my chagrin, (narrow boxed understanding), she moved to a loft. Yea used every oven on the second floor on a rotational basis (great neighbors). The manager of the loft told her about a small place for rent that she could use for a restaurant.”Soul Folks” was born. Her first food was cooked on a hot plate.Since then she has served people ranging from a South Afrakan royalty, Bob Marley’s mother,Sidney Portier, Angela Basset,CCH Pounder, the Mayor, councilperson, the homelessness. Yealang and Throwdown Catering have been the only Afrakan American business to participate in the Annual Tofu Festival in Downtown Los Angeles. After appearing on the Bobby Flay television show that was filed at the Annual Tofu festival, a network food show called “Throwdown” commenced. With this, I will close down that sharing.

“Excerpt from the “Making of Soul” coming out soon.

Whatever your situation is SOUL can take care of it. As soon as we open, bring your culinary needs to this palce of beauty,passion and gourmand delight.You will know you have arrived home. This is exactly what you have been looking
How do I know all of this! I am the mother. Some come from me, and some comes from her father and other ancestoral cooks. But Yealang chose to manifest the art and science of cooking at this level. This blesses the world!

By: Marilin Brewer

Marilin Brewer — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:37:27 +0000

Hi Yelang,
Marilin from Terry Michaelis office. It all looks yummy, I can’t wait to come to Soul.

Marilin

By: ERICA DAVIS

ERICA DAVIS — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 13:29:20 +0000

YEALANG SMITH IS MY FIRST COUSIN AND I AM VERY PROUD OF HER. I KNOW THE RESTURANT WILL BE A SUCESSFUL SHE COMES FROM A LONG LINE OF GREAT COOKS.

LOVE COUSIN
ERICA

GREETING FROM TITUSVILLE FL,

By: Keith aka Funk

Keith aka Funk — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 21:51:39 +0000

As often as I have eaten from Chef Yealang’s delicious,deep and enticing food dishes I remain impressed …….her dedication to the “art of food” is fully wedded to ” hitting my “seven senses’ ! I’ve followed her as she evolved through both Soul Folks restaurants and several catering events and she continues to
“throw down”…well !!