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Bournet Brilliant

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Three sisters just opened a Black youth-owned vegan cafe in Florida, VegNews reports.

Sisters Lyrica (13), Zaira (12), and Nadira (9) Leo are the co-owners of Bourne Brilliant, a new vegan eatery in Tallahassee, Florida. The trio started the business some years ago, selling and catering their food to local festivals, events and farmers’ markets. With the help of their parents Syrheda La Shae and Jahlion Leo, as well as their mentor, Tallahassee chef Shacafrica Simmons, the girls have been able to open their first cafe.

Bourne Brilliant serves several homemade foods, including cupcakes, cookies and bread, and herbal teas, fresh fruit juices and preserves. They also have a rotating menu of hot dishes on Saturdays, including vegan BBQ drumsticks, Caribbean vegetable callaloo, mac and cheese and curry noodle soup. Not only is the food tasty, but it’s also affordable, with customers being able to purchase several different combos ranging in price between $10-$15. 

Lyrica works as head chef, while Zaira takes care of finances and inventory, and Nadira helps set up the shop and make sure shelves are stocked. Over the years, the girls have grown into their strengths and learned their unique place in the business. The Leo family said that despite the current pandemic, they still felt it was as good a time as any to allow their girls to get started with the business.

“We felt positive about the decision to open at this time. We traveled in South Carolina and Georgia this summer and looked at small businesses and retail to see what they were doing and what was working for them. We feel good about our safety practices,” La Shae Leo said. 

Bourne Brilliant is currently open to the public, only allowing five customers at a time with required masks. 

Congratulations girls!

Photo Courtesy of VegNews