Jasmine “Jazzy” White
Sweet, salty and savory are three flavor profiles that describe the down-home cooking style of Harrisburg’s newest head chef, Jasmine “Jazzy” White.
Descended from a long line of cooks, White has spent the past decade perfecting her family’s treasured recipes to one day open her own restaurant.
“I grew up cooking in the kitchen with my mom, aunties and grandmom,” White said. “I started out washing and chopping veggies for their meals and graduated to meats and seasonings. By the age of 10, I was able to cook a full-course meal by myself from scratch.”
For eight years, White and her best friend, Brandy Spells, prepared and sold more than 25,000 pre-ordered platters out of White’s home in Allison Hill. During that time, they crafted weekly menus, grew a social media presence, and branded the business, Jazzy’s Good Eats. The name pays tribute to White’s love for music and her southern roots.
“We were preparing around 60 meals a day—mainly for repeat customers—out of my kitchen,” White said. “I remember feeling the need to find a sizeable space to grow and spread our love for food across Harrisburg. My mom, Lisa White, and late sister, Janisha White, were the driving forces behind my decision to take this next step.”
In August, Jazzy’s Good Eats opened in Kline Village with three employees—a head chef, catering coordinator and brand ambassador. White, Spells and Michelle King, White’s sister-in-law, sold more than 1,200 meals in the first month of their brick-and-mortar restaurant.
Their secret? They save people time.
“It takes a lot of time and energy to make good soul food,” she said. “That’s where we come in. We help our community enjoy the food they love without the hassle or time commitment to make these dishes daily. Customers can grab a platter and a chair to join us around the family table.”
This soul food eatery specializes in flavorful barbecue dishes, selling sought-after beef ribs as well as turkey chops, turkey legs, turkey and chicken wings, fried fish and other main courses. Every entrée includes two baked sides such as rice and gravy, mac and cheese, collard greens, candied yams, black-eyed peas, cabbage and more.
For something sweet, the restaurant offers fresh-baked desserts, banana pudding and a signature cornbread. Jazzy and her team also concoct specialty lemonades and beverages to accompany meals.
“Our menu was built on the food you find at grandma’s house on a Sunday afternoon,” King said. “When people bite into our entrees and sides, it reminds them of their family and transports them back home. That’s what it is all about.”
White’s number-one priority is for the community to feel welcome in their space. In the coming months, Jazzy’s Good Eats hopes to host open mic nights, jazz concerts and game nights for families and adults to enjoy.
“We want our restaurant to be a comfortable place for people to feel at home in,” White said. “Families eat together, kids laugh and have fun, and music plays in the background.”
With their food in high demand, Jazzy’s Good Eats also offers catering services for family parties, corporate events and weekend gatherings. They’re excited about what’s in store for their business.
“We started out with my simple motto: ‘You hungry? I’m cooking!’” White laughed. “Now, we get to cook for hundreds of families every month from our restaurant. It’s amazing to see where we started and how far we’ve come.”
Jazzy’s Good Eats is located at 101 S. 25th St. Suite 12, in Kline Village, Harrisburg. For more information, visit their Facebook page or call 717-234-2000.
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