Giraffes in the Kitchen?

So why The Giraffe Kitchen? It goes beyond a sheer love for Giraffes and great food.
Many different cultures view the Giraffe symbolically in different ways. Arabic culture views the Giraffe as a symbol for women, Japanese culture sees it as a symbol of mystique, magic, and uniqueness. In Celtic culture the Giraffe is symbolic of a loving mother or guardian angel.
Native American symbolism says the Giraffe medicine tells the man to act sensibly. It tells the man to stand tall as energy flows through the spine that is tall and erect. Good posture is necessary for good health. The wise giraffe knows about the cycles of life and death. That is why this fearless animal can stand calmly and proudly, even in the face of adversity.

No matter the culture or symbolism derived from the beautiful animal - there is a message that can be connected with. This is something that we in The Giraffe Kitchen strive for on a daily basis. To connect everyday - whether it's with another person, a higher power, nature, or ourselves. We work daily to be our best, look to the future, stand tall, and build lasting relationships.

But what about the kitchen?
Owner and Chef, Michelle, traveled to France as a foreign exchange student in high school - where she fell in love with all things delicious food. Once stateside she decided to ditch her plans for a graphic design major and followed her heart (and her stomach) to culinary school.

A decade and many kitchens owned by other people later, The Giraffe Kitchen was born.
After her father was diagnosed with Alzheimer's a month before the global pandemic rocked everyone's world, Michelle knew something needed to change in her life to push herself towards her dreams. She moved cross country from California back to South Carolina to assist in the full time care of her father while making her dreams come true at the same time. He was a chef as a young adult and helped fuel the love of food in her life, and now it's her turn to return the favor tenfold.

The Giraffe Kitchen is dedicated to chefs in the family that came before her, and hopefully the future generations to come.