August 29, 2025 • 4 mins
Chef Cliff Rome is not just a celebrated culinary artist hailing from Chicago's South Side; he is also a passionate mentor whose work extends far beyond the kitchen.
At the Obama Presidential Center, Chef Rome honors Black culinary traditions and shines a spotlight on local ingredients, ensuring that his menus are not only inventive but also deeply rooted in the community's heritage. His dedication to supporting Black-owned businesses is truly commendable, as he sources ingredients locally and collaborates with fellow entrepreneurs.
What sets Chef Rome apart is his commitment to mentorship and skill-building for local youth. His kitchen becomes a transformative space where young people can gain valuable experience and opportunities.
Chef Rome's restaurant is more than just a place to enjoy a meal – it's a hub for community, connection, and positive change. The Black Information Network is really looking forward to sharing more about Chef Rome's inspiring journey and the impact he is making.
Listen now!
At the Obama Presidential Center, Chef Rome honors Black culinary traditions and shines a spotlight on local ingredients, ensuring that his menus are not only inventive but also deeply rooted in the community's heritage. His dedication to supporting Black-owned businesses is truly commendable, as he sources ingredients locally and collaborates with fellow entrepreneurs.
What sets Chef Rome apart is his commitment to mentorship and skill-building for local youth. His kitchen becomes a transformative space where young people can gain valuable experience and opportunities.
Chef Rome's restaurant is more than just a place to enjoy a meal – it's a hub for community, connection, and positive change. The Black Information Network is really looking forward to sharing more about Chef Rome's inspiring journey and the impact he is making.
Listen now!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hope in the face of difficulty, Hope in the face
of uncertainty, the audacity of hope. I'm asking you to
believe not in my ability to bring about change, but
in yours. Yes we can.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
In every story we tell, Hope lives here where history
meets opportunity, progress and empowerment, from the heart of Chicago's
South Side to the soul of a movement. Welcome to
Hope has an address where we explore the people and
places shaping a better tomorrow. I'm Breewood for the Black
Information Network. Today we're stepping into a space where history
(00:39):
is being made and where the aroma of possibility is unmistakable.
The Obama Presidential Center is more than just a landmark.
It's a living, breathing tribute to community, culture and connection.
And at the center of it all is a kitchen.
Behind those doors is Chef Cliff Rome, a culinary artist,
a mentor, and a proud son of Chicago. Outside of
(01:01):
designing menus, he's crafting experiences that feed the body and
uplift the spirit.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
My name is Chef Cliff Rome. Our company, bam Joy,
will be leading food service at the Obama Presidential Center.
I'm a product of the South Side of Chicago. I
grew up in the kitchen with my grandmother. That was
my first inspiration and probably love affair with food. I
started in food service, like most humble beginners, as a dishwasher.
I realized I didn't want to do that for a
very long time. So we are to make sure that
(01:27):
I created opportunities within the kitchen.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Chef Rome's journey began just blocks away and kitchens filled
with love, legacy, and the kind of storytelling that happens
over simmering pots and shared plates. Those early memories of
Sunday dinners, of elders seasoning with soul are now woven
into every dish he creates.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Food is the thing closest tied to memory. Food takes
you back to a particular time and place. Just like
if you hear your favorite song, that dining experience or
exchange is one that's memorable. That's what food does.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
But this isn't just about food, It's about purpose. At
the Obama Presidential Center, Chef Rome is building something bigger
than a restaurant. He's building opportunity. His menus highlight local ingredients,
celebrate black culinary traditions, and support black owned businesses. Every
bite tells a story of resilience, of pride of community.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
So we have a brick and mortar on the South
side of Chicago called Peaches. We're just celebrated in ten years.
It is a breakfast and lunch restaurant more diner esque,
located in the heart of Brownsville doing a great migration.
A lot of black folks moved from the South to
the north and they landed in Bronsville. And for us,
it was important to build a restaurant as an institution
on the South side of Chicago because it's seeped in
(02:39):
so much history and culture, creating something special in the community.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Chef Rome's kitchen is also a classroom. Young people from
the neighborhood are learning the art of hospitality, gaining skills
and discovering new paths. Its mentorship in motion, and it's
changing lives.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
That are ready rock and roll order fire. I got
a lemon blueberry pancake when we got the call that
we would be the food service operators at the Obama
Presidential Center, I was blown away. This is an incredible
opportunity for any business, particularly a small black business. It
gives us the opportunity to show our employees what success
(03:15):
really looks like. For us, it's about reinvested into community
and reinvested into human capitals.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Every dish is delicious and intentional. It's a celebration of
heritage and a vision for the future. And decide from
what's on the plate. It's about who's around the table. Families, students,
visitors from across the globe all gather to share a meal,
a moment, a memory. The former president even did a
surprise pop up at Peaches, and of course, Chef rom
(03:41):
answered the one question everybody wanted to know about the visit.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
We're on the streeters, I should order some shrimp and grits.
Oh so, just in case people don't wonder, he ordered
the salmon coquette, shrimp and grit and definitely at Peach Cobber, Chef.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Cliff Room reminds us that his food is more than nourishment.
It's connection, it's culture, it's hope, and at the Obama
Presidential Center, hope has an address and today it's plated
with purpose. To learn more about Chef Rome's role with
the Obama Presidential Center, visit Obama dot org or listen
to the interview at binnews dot com, backslash interviews. I'm
(04:17):
Breewood for the Black Information Network.
Hope in the face of difficulty, Hope in the face
of uncertainty, the audacity of hope. I'm asking you to
believe not in my ability to bring about change, but
in yours. Yes we can.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
In every story we tell, Hope lives here where history
meets opportunity, progress and empowerment, from the heart of Chicago's
South Side to the soul of a movement. Welcome to
Hope has an address where we explore the people and
places shaping a better tomorrow. I'm Breewood for the Black
Information Network. Today we're stepping into a space where history
(00:39):
is being made and where the aroma of possibility is unmistakable.
The Obama Presidential Center is more than just a landmark.
It's a living, breathing tribute to community, culture and connection.
And at the center of it all is a kitchen.
Behind those doors is Chef Cliff Rome, a culinary artist,
a mentor, and a proud son of Chicago. Outside of
(01:01):
designing menus, he's crafting experiences that feed the body and
uplift the spirit.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
My name is Chef Cliff Rome. Our company, bam Joy,
will be leading food service at the Obama Presidential Center.
I'm a product of the South Side of Chicago. I
grew up in the kitchen with my grandmother. That was
my first inspiration and probably love affair with food. I
started in food service, like most humble beginners, as a dishwasher.
I realized I didn't want to do that for a
very long time. So we are to make sure that
(01:27):
I created opportunities within the kitchen.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Chef Rome's journey began just blocks away and kitchens filled
with love, legacy, and the kind of storytelling that happens
over simmering pots and shared plates. Those early memories of
Sunday dinners, of elders seasoning with soul are now woven
into every dish he creates.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Food is the thing closest tied to memory. Food takes
you back to a particular time and place. Just like
if you hear your favorite song, that dining experience or
exchange is one that's memorable. That's what food does.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
But this isn't just about food, It's about purpose. At
the Obama Presidential Center, Chef Rome is building something bigger
than a restaurant. He's building opportunity. His menus highlight local ingredients,
celebrate black culinary traditions, and support black owned businesses. Every
bite tells a story of resilience, of pride of community.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
So we have a brick and mortar on the South
side of Chicago called Peaches. We're just celebrated in ten years.
It is a breakfast and lunch restaurant more diner esque,
located in the heart of Brownsville doing a great migration.
A lot of black folks moved from the South to
the north and they landed in Bronsville. And for us,
it was important to build a restaurant as an institution
on the South side of Chicago because it's seeped in
(02:39):
so much history and culture, creating something special in the community.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Chef Rome's kitchen is also a classroom. Young people from
the neighborhood are learning the art of hospitality, gaining skills
and discovering new paths. Its mentorship in motion, and it's
changing lives.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
That are ready rock and roll order fire. I got
a lemon blueberry pancake when we got the call that
we would be the food service operators at the Obama
Presidential Center, I was blown away. This is an incredible
opportunity for any business, particularly a small black business. It
gives us the opportunity to show our employees what success
(03:15):
really looks like. For us, it's about reinvested into community
and reinvested into human capitals.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
Every dish is delicious and intentional. It's a celebration of
heritage and a vision for the future. And decide from
what's on the plate. It's about who's around the table. Families, students,
visitors from across the globe all gather to share a meal,
a moment, a memory. The former president even did a
surprise pop up at Peaches, and of course, Chef rom
(03:41):
answered the one question everybody wanted to know about the visit.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
We're on the streeters, I should order some shrimp and grits.
Oh so, just in case people don't wonder, he ordered
the salmon coquette, shrimp and grit and definitely at Peach Cobber, Chef.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Cliff Room reminds us that his food is more than nourishment.
It's connection, it's culture, it's hope, and at the Obama
Presidential Center, hope has an address and today it's plated
with purpose. To learn more about Chef Rome's role with
the Obama Presidential Center, visit Obama dot org or listen
to the interview at binnews dot com, backslash interviews. I'm
(04:17):
Breewood for the Black Information Network.
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