About Us

We aspire to be much more than just a good restaurant that serves good food. We’ll be a restaurant that benefits not from just the appetites of our patrons, but offers a complete experience that enlightens the mind, body and soul. Furthermore, we strive to create an environment where food can foster conversation, and where conversation can turn into life application and change. We want to open a dialogue that can create a strong community and empower individuals.

More than anything, we are a people who rejuvenate our patrons and community members through our exceptional food, service and opportunity to be a part of change.

In 1990 E.D. Mondaine, Former Senior Pastor of Celebration Tabernacle Inc., had a vision to create opportunities for individuals in his congregation and the local community who were underserved, but extremely great talent. Mondaine launched Girl & Guy Fridays, a copying and secretarial service with café to provide the opportunity for empowerment to anyone who needed it. After many years, Girl & Guy Fridays became Fridays Espresso and concentrated its efforts on selling fine coffee and antique.

Celebration Tabernacle, a non-denominational church founded by E.D. Mondaine, created a youth workforce organization called, Teach Me To Fish (TMTF); “Give me a fish and I will eat for a day. Teach me to fish and I will eat for a lifetime.” The TMTF program is a comprehensive culinary education initiative designed specifically for the community. In the development of this wonderful program we implemented some of the ideas from programs within a sister church in St. Louis, Missouri.

In its entirety, TMTF will provide a well-structured environment that teaches not only culinary job skills, but also life skills that help individuals flourish.

Po’Shines was inspired by a wonderful man named Cecil Wooden, nicknamed Po’Shine by Mayor Tom Bradley of Los Angeles, CA. One of Cecil’s greatest desires was to be able to order fried fish from a local restaurant that had a purpose and provided an excellent meal. Celebration Tabernacle (CT) launched Po’Shines to be a catalyst for underserved youth who needed a safe place to call home so they can grow.

CT developed its work readiness and culinary arts programs out of the need to provide job skills to meet the demands of today’s economic challenges. Po’Shines management reports to the board of CT for project approval and strategic planning to successfully run a restaurant, concessions and catering. JOHN TOLBERT Executive Chef / General Manager