Charisse McGill putting French toast all over the table and store shelves
PHILADELPHIA >> Charisse McGill is taking over the world, one nugget of French toast a time.
McGill, who lives in Aldan, is the owner of Lokal Artisan Foods and runs French Toast Bites, with locations at the Cherry Street Pier and Spruce Street Harbor Park along the Delaware River in Philadelphia.
Not ever content to just sit still, McGill has moved into the beer and coffee business with, well, more French toast.
“Last year, during my first baby-steps into the beer business, I was overwhelmed at the amazing interest and fast response to my first beer,” said McGill, who was partnered with the Doylestown Brewing Company last summer.
French Toast Bites Ale proved so successful, though, the brewery couldn’t keep up with demand.
“They told me it was going to be tough for them to produce this year,” McGill said.
So, through conversations with Doylestown Brewing, McGill was able to hook up with Yards Brewing Company in Philadelphia. Now, French Toast Bites Ale will be brewed year-round and in stores.
“I was overwhelmed at the amazing interest and fast response to my first beer. I was yielding calls, emails and DM’s from people all over Pennsylvania and the country,” said McGill, who was at one time the main organizer of the Lansdale Farmer’s Market. “It was such an amazing process that came during one of the worst years in all of our lives. My pivot journey had me looking onwards and upwards each and every day - and that journey led me to connect with the amazing folks at Yards Brewing Company.”
Yards, at 500 Spring Garden St. in Philadelphia, has added French Toast Bites Ale to it’s summer menu.
“When we met Charisse, we were drawn to her spirit
and positive energy, and immediately felt that our values and interests were really well aligned,” said Yards Brewing Company CEO Trevor Prichett. “As a small player in a big field, at Yards we are all about promoting Philadelphia’s hometown companies and entrepreneurs, and we are proud to brew in collaboration with Charisse and to bring her ingenuity to beer
lovers throughout our region. A big thanks to Dave Goldman at Urban Village Brewing Company for introducing us to Charisse and helping to kick start this partnership.”
The beer presents as an amber-colored ale that clocks in at 5.5% ABV. The beer has the taste of cinnamon, sugar and vanilla infused within and has the undertones of a stout.
This has been an interesting year for McGill. Last March, her French Toast Bites stop became the first black-owned business at Spruce Street Harbor Park, Philadelphia’s summertime “beach” hangout, just in time for the COVID-19 pandemic to hit.
“In March, I went a little nuts,” said McGill in 2020. “Everything I went into business for was getting
cancelled. I love taking our food truck to festivals and concerts. I always say, I’m in the people business, not the food business.”
Despite the restrictions, McGill said the summer went well and she was able to open another French Toast Bites stop at the Cherry Street Pier.
She’s ready to starting selling the treats again in the summer of 2021, but has run into a problem a lot of businesses are facing.
“We need workers,” McGill said. “Right now we are getting through with
friends and family, but we are hoping to get a full staff to take the pressure off.”
McGill, isn’t ready to slow down, though. She is also introducing French Toast Bites coffee in corroboration with Bean2Bean Coffee Company on 3451 Edgemont St. in Philadelphia. She also has French Toast Bites Spice (mixture of sugar, cinnamon and Nutmeg) on store shelves.
Which can lead to a fun moment.
“I saw French Toast Bites Ale at my local Acme,” McGill said. “That felt so great.”