Who is Meraki Foodz?!
Who is Meraki Foodz?!
Meraki Foodz Wellness Shoppe is a Baltimore-based food and wellness initiative rooted in intention, nourishment, and community care.
We believe food is more than a meal — it is connection, healing, and a basic human need that everyone deserves access to. Every dish we create is guided by the philosophy of meraki: to put soul, creativity, and love into what we give to others.
Founded by Symone Barnes, Meraki Foodz is evolving beyond private dining into purpose-driven service. Our focus is creating meaningful food experiences while actively working to support individuals and families who lack access to nourishing, quality meals.
Through our nonprofit initiative, Fed by Grace, every meal prepared and every service booked helps support efforts to feed and uplift unhoused and underserved communities throughout Baltimore and the DMV area. While Fed by Grace is still being built and established, our long-term mission is to create consistent outreach that grows from monthly service into sustained weekly impact.
At this stage, all donations directly support the reinstatement of licensing for Meraki Foodz Wellness Shoppe and help fund the establishment of Fed by Grace as a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in Maryland.
Serving Baltimore and the DMV area — with travel available — Meraki Foodz exists for those who value intentional living, meaningful connection, and using food as a way to care for others. This is not just about dining — it is about giving nourishment where it is needed most.
Meet the Founder
Symone Barnes is the force behind Meraki Foodz Wellness Shoppe — a community-centered food and wellness initiative rooted in nourishment, dignity, and care.
Her work exists from a simple truth: access to quality, nourishing food should never be a privilege. It should be a form of support, healing, and connection for everyone.
Originally drawn to social work, Symone’s path shifted into food — not away from service, but deeper into it. Through culinary training at Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte, she built a foundation in food as both craft and culture, and as a direct way to serve people.
Meraki Foodz was launched in October 2020 during a time when care and connection were urgently needed. What started as private chef work has evolved into a broader mission: using food as a tool for impact.
Guided by the meaning of meraki — to do something with soul, creativity, and love — her work blends intentional cooking with community care.
Now based in Baltimore and serving the DMV area, Symone is expanding this work into a community initiative through Fed by Grace — focused on feeding and supporting unhoused and underserved communities with consistency, not charity moments.
This is not just food service. It’s care in practice.
Contact us
Have a question or ready to create something intentional?
We’d love to connect.