B. Smith on International Women's Day

AC Price
Mar 8, 2022
2 min read

B. Smith mastered culinary arts only after being an African American pioneer in the modeling world. In search for her life’s purpose after modeling, she gained the admiration of a restaurant group she worked for and impressed them so that their assistance was provided in helping B. Smith open her very first namesake restaurant in 1986, on Eighth Avenue at 47th Street in New York City.

From newspaper routes to lemonade stands, B. Smith was no stranger to taking charge and making her own way. In high school she was discriminated against in attempts to become a member of a homemaking club. Afterwhich, B. Smith dusted herself off and created her own home economics group with a following and assigned herself president.

Through this love for ingenuity, home economics, and culinary swag, B. Smith was donned the title, the ‘Black Martha Stewart’. However, her style was a more concentrated blend of her African roots with a stroke of Asian influence.

In honor of International Women's Day, we salute and honor B. Smith for being a culinary and lifestyle pioneer for women, primarily women of color, making her own way when she was denied 'their' way.

Renowned celebrity chef, exquisite restaurateur, author, magazine publisher, tv host, model, and overall lifestyle maven, B. Smith was and is revered as having the epitome of great taste and style.

B. Smith peacefully transitioned from this earth on February 22, 2020, after a 7 year battle with Alzheimer's Disease.

We at the AC Art Of Food offices remember, cherish, and honor Queen B. Smith as an inspiration, phenomenal trailblazer, icon of fortitude and determination, and pillar of womanhood, all with grace and 'B. Smith Style'.