About Us

I’m Carlton Brown, an award-winning Chef and owner of Occasional Occasions by Carlton Catering, and Bon Appetit Y’all®, Sassy Sauces, Seasonings, Sweets, and Savories.

You might be surprised to know that I grew up with parents whose lives revolved around stirring, mixing and seasoning for the masses. My mother was a home economics teacher, and my father was a cook in the United States Marine Corp. Despite that, growing up, I never really had any desire to be in the kitchen, let alone cook! That all changed on my final tour of duty in the U.S. Air Force.

I was stationed in England and roomed with a Staff Sergeant whose exquisite taste and skills in table service dazzled me into becoming a server at the Base Officers Club. That experience piqued my curiosity into cooking and into the world of culinary.

It was my lack of cooking skills that later was the catalyst of my enrollment into Culinary School. That was when the Foodie bug hit me, and my life hasn’t been the same since.

Over the years, cooking has unequivocally become a true passion of mine. I love creative combinations of flavor profiles that are unexpected. When I see an unusual pairing on a restaurant’s menu, its like a challenge, and I have to try it.

These are the traits that have folded over into Bon Appetit Y’all® and Pantry Picks®.

Through Pantry Picks®, our premier membership program, you’ll discover one of the most exclusive and creative culinary lines of condiments consisting of Jellies, Jams, Chutney, Seasonings, Rubs, Marinades, BBQ Sauces, Vinaigrettes, Mustards, Pickles, Compound Butters, Home Made Crackers and so much more…all making it fun to “play with your food”.

Our goal with Bon Appetit Y ‘all® and Pantry Picks® is to share with you fun, creative and Sassy Sauces, Seasonings, Sweets and Savories that will hopefully pique your child like curiosity and motivate you to play in the kitchen more, and maybe even with your food. Our Pantry Picks® Gourmet Condiments help you take the ordinary and create the extraordinary.

Although Bon Appetit Y’all by Carlton, was officially launched on 1 July 2020, many of you would be surprised to know that Bon Appetit Y’all was actually birthed on 9/15/13. Yep…almost 7 years ago. Back then however, it wasn’t called Bon Appetit Y’all. It was actually named after my mother and called ‘Hilda Brewer Brown”.

Ironically enough, during that period I was also the co-owner of “Hilda’s…A Breakfast to Write Home About”, which was a breakfast brunch spot in the Irwin Street Market in the Old Forth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta GA.

We were holding a festival in the parking lot of the Irwin Street Market and I recall I worked months to get the products finished in time for the festival. It was doubly special to me because I was launching the product in front of a restaurant that was also named in my mothers honor (Hilda’s).

As you can see some of these recipes had been around for years, and not much has changed outside of the brand name and the dedication, determination and passion behind it now. So will you raise a jar of Champagne and Grape Jelly and toast with me to Bon Appetit Y’all and its success. CHEERS

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