Brandon Claybon, a native Memphian now living in Los Angeles, was one of 636 guests at the fifth annual Craft Food & Wine Festival, which was held June 23rd at The Columns.
The fundraiser for Church Health featured more than 30 food-related businesses.
and Verles Westbrook
“It was my first time at the event,” Claybon says. “I thought it was amazing. Absolutely extraordinary for Memphis to have something like this. And bringing people from all walks of life to come together, break bread, and drink wine. It was amazing.”
Asked how many stations he frequented, Brandon says, “I probably stopped at about 20. And then I ate a hamburger after. I waited the entire day for the festival, so I didn’t eat before.”
Claybon and event organizer Cristina McCarter were best friends at Bolton High School. “This year, it was just in the cards. So, basically, I had wrapped up a shooting with Tyler Perry in Atlanta.”
This year’s Craft Food & Wine Festival raised about $7,000, McCarter estimates. That brings the total raised over five years to “close to $60,000” for Church Health, she says.
