A Loudoun entrepreneur is inviting residents to participate in the local food scene in a brand new way-one that might literally change their lives. Teddra Burgess is introducing the first DMV location of Taste Buds Kitchen to the area, and the concept’s unique blend of community, education, and good food is certain to make it a neighborhood favorite.
Taste Buds Kitchen will be moving into a 2,600 square foot storefront on Gramercy Park Drive as part of the Loudoun Station development. Burgess was kind enough to set aside some time to fill What Now DC readers in on this exciting new culinary frontier-and what it will bring to Ashburn families.
“Honestly, it felt personal from the moment I discovered it.” she says. “I have spent my career building things that matter in the tech world, but food has always been how I connect with people. Taste Buds Kitchen is a place where a kid discovers they love to cook, where families make real memories, where neighbors actually meet each other. That is a business worth building. And the brand has proven itself across 18+ locations nationally. I knew I could bring it to life here in Ashburn.”
Bringing something special and valuable to the community is personal to Burgess, not only as a businesswoman but also as a member of the neighborhood. She explains: “Loudoun County is home. I have lived here for over 20 years and I know what this community is made of. Loudoun Station is one of the most vibrant, growing corridors in the entire D.C. region, right on the Silver Line, surrounded by families, young professionals, and a neighborhood that is still becoming what it will be. It felt like exactly the right place for this concept.”
Taste Buds Kitchen’s founder and CEO Jessi Walter Brelsford is similarly enthusiastic about seeing the brand enter the DMV market, saying: ““As a resident of neighboring Maryland and the founder of Taste Buds Kitchen, seeing our brand expand into the D.C. metro area at Loudoun Station is a milestone moment for me. We look for franchise partners who are as passionate about community and culinary education as we are, and Teddra Burgess is the perfect leader to bring our mission to life in Ashburn.
We’ve always believed that food has a unique power to bring people together, and I am incredibly proud to support Teddra as she creates a space where families and neighbors can connect. I can’t wait to see the memories her team will help create in this vibrant community at Taste Buds Kitchen.”
Burgess’s Taste Buds Kitchen will be the first to open in the greater DC area, so locals may, understandably, be unfamiliar with the concept. Burgess describes the atmosphere she plans to cultivate with the concept, saying: “Taste Buds Kitchen is a stylish, upscale culinary entertainment studio offering hands-on, from-scratch cooking experiences for ages 2 to 99. From kids’ summer camps and birthday parties to adult classes and corporate team building events, we provide an inviting space for the community to come together to Learn, Laugh, and Cook while building everyday kitchen confidence and sparking creativity.”
Burgess states that locals can look forward to experiencing all that Taste Buds has to offer this fall. The concept is bound to become an important part of the fabric of the Loudoun community, thanks to its unique approach to dining and Burgess’s commitment to the area. She explains: “I want people to walk in and immediately feel welcome, like this place was made for them. Because it was.”
Locals can get a further taste of all that Taste Buds Kitchen has to offer on its official website.
