Popular Dallas-based restaurant Blancheaholics is making waves in the culinary world thanks to the “Keith Lee effect” and an influential partnership with Microsoft.
As part of “The Reheat” video series, Jesse Washington’s Brunchaholics has been gaining attention for their impressive growth and success following Keith Lee’s visit earlier this year.
Other black-owned businesses featured in the series include Las Vegas restaurant Pretty Soul Kitchen and New Orleans restaurant Monday’s.
A well-known food critic and small business advocate, Lee is dedicated to highlighting local entrepreneurs, especially Black-owned restaurants. His food reviews have gone viral and his work to highlight small businesses has earned him the title “The People’s Champion.”
“We are fortunate to have a trusted platform that helps grow local businesses across the country,” Lee said.
“We know Black-owned businesses often struggle to stay afloat and meet demand, which is why we’re excited to partner with Microsoft to provide them with the tools they need to keep their businesses thriving for years to come.”
People familiar with the matter said Microsoft’s partnership with Lee drew attention to challenges facing small and medium-sized businesses, including meeting surges in demand and the need to streamline operations for sustainable growth.
Anthony Kerr, senior product marketing manager at Microsoft, emphasized the importance of integrating AI tools and solutions into the operations of companies like Brunchaholics to streamline workflows and support long-term growth.
“Keith Lee has had an immeasurable impact on Black-owned food businesses across the country by using his platform to highlight local entrepreneurs,” Carr said.
“For these companies, every second saved and every dollar spent can mean the difference between surviving and thriving. Our goal with The Reheat is to show companies how integrating AI tools and solutions into their operations can streamline workflows and drive business growth.”
The series will feature rotating stations with Microsoft AI experts and Keith Lee, and guests will get to experience live demos using various Microsoft AI tools and solutions while tasting the restaurant’s latest and greatest dishes.
These include CoPilot Creativity 101, a crash course on using CoPilot to unlock new creativity and efficiency in your work, and AI Small-Medium Business Tools, focusing on how AI business optimization tools and resources can accelerate your business.
Additionally, restaurant owners had the opportunity to collaborate with Keith Lee in “The Kitchen,” testing out new recipes and receiving expert feedback and guidance.
As part of “The Reheat” series, Washington teamed up with Microsoft AI experts and Keith Lee to explore various AI tools and solutions that could benefit his business.
“The Keith Lee effect had a positive effect on us and things have been moving fast ever since. We just weren’t ready,” Brancheholics owner Jesse Washington said.
“To keep up with demand, I needed a way to stay organized. Reheat with Keith Lee and Microsoft gave me the opportunity to see how AI can help me, as an entrepreneur, manage my business more efficiently. The fact that Copilot is integrated into the apps I use all the time is groundbreaking, and learning more about how to work with and be supported by AI allows me to focus on other important things to keep Brunchaholics growing.”
To provide valuable resources to business owners, “The Reheat” offers free downloadable tips, educational materials on leveraging AI-powered tools and solutions, and an engaging “The Reheat with Keith Lee” video series.
