Meet the Owner: Auntie's Soul Food & More

A painted family tree adorns one wall of Auntie's Soul Food & More, complete with framed photos of owner Melissa Brown's family members.

But the photos of her smiling nieces and nephews are only part of the homespun feel of the restuarant at 1006 E. Hillsborough Avenue.

Homemade red velvet cake, oxtails and pans of macaroni and cheese have helped lure customers to the dine and and carry out restaurant since Brown, a married mother of four, opened her doors in August.

Brown, who helped run her mother-in-law's business before opening her own, recently talked soul food and business savvy while taking a break inside her restaurant.

On her specialties: Fried turkey wings. I also have brown stew oxtails. I also do chitterlings. A lot of restaurants don't do those. We have a specialty dessert called "Family Never Splits." It's a banana split on top of waffle.

How she learned to cook: I've been cooking for so long. My grandmother, I watched her in the kitchen. My oldest daughter's grandmother showed me a couple things. My mom cooks Italian. Yesterday, I made a lasagna.

On what makes her soul food stand out: I am cooking from the heart. I got the idea from my nieces and nephews. For family holidays, everybody comes to my house. The mac and cheese is my nieces and nephews favorite.

Why she chose Hillsborough Avenue as a location:  My husband's godmother was telling me about a spot open on Waters Avenue. I couldn't find the location, and I was driving around. This used to be a grocery store. I saw the sign for leasing, and I asked them what building it would be. He planned for it to be a restaurant. He was renting it out, and I asked to take the restaurant.

Auntie's Soul Food & More is at 1006 E. Hillsborough Avenue. Call (813) 280-9957.