Page 21 - DeKalb NCG 2025

Centeno Family:

Peter Thomas, Jeanne & Lee Cheese Joel, Sandra, Sadia & Chef Eric

Atlanta Hustle Exquisite Delites
Chef Eric Centeno once catered a memorial reception for
The sport of Ultimate Frisbee is growing, yet Jeanne 5,000 people on a Sunday – with just a day and a half notice. It
Cheese still meets people who think it means white meant making 15,000 meatballs from scratch and sourcing the
hippies playing frisbee in the parks, or disc golf enthusiasts. finer ingredients for a 40-foot charcuterie board, for example,
“The biggest barrier is exposure and knowledge of without cutting corners or compromising their high standards.
the sport,” said Jeanne, a co-owner of Atlanta Hustle, a “Never say no,” said Eric Centeno who accepted the challenge
premier team in the UFA™ South Division (Ultimate Frisbee when other top chefs had turned down the opportunity or
Association) that is celebrating its 10th year in 2025. were adding significant fees. This single, Herculean effort
Her younger brother, Peter Thomas, also a Hustle won Exquisite Delites a Catersource Achievement in Catering
co-owner, played Ultimate Frisbee in college in the 1980s Excellence Award for Best Off-Premise Catering in 2024.
and was the first Black player on Atlanta’s elite club team, Eric, a globally trained chef and Certified Health and Nutrition
Chain Lightning. Counselor from Columbia University, offers upscale, heart-healthy
“The very inclusive Ultimate community makes it easy New American World Cuisine.
for Blacks and others who are interested in playing the The catering company is Centeno family owned. Sandra
sport to feel welcomed,” said Peter. His passion sparked Centeno left TV production to co-run the family business.
the Cheese family’s journey from playing recreationally to Teens Joel and Sadia were brought in early and learned the
team ownership. They’re now working to grow awareness realities of entrepreneurship.
across DeKalb and metro Atlanta. “We had a family meeting when the kids were 13 and 15 years
Founded in 2015, Atlanta Hustle plays six home games old. We showed them our mortgage, the bills at home and for the
at Silverbacks Park in a 12-game season. commercial building to convert into a kitchen,” said Sandra, co-
“Extreme sportsmanship is 100-percent of it,” said owner and Director of Catering Sales at Exquisite Delites.
Jeanne. “It’s a non-contact, friendly sport. Playing with a Eric added, “Should we wait? Or do we burn the boats and
commitment to good sportsmanship – we call it “Spirit of go all in. The kids said burn the boats. So we put all our chips in,
the Game” – is critically important to Ultimate players.” The our whole savings, everything we had, and went to renovate that
Cheeses’ son Adam started an Ultimate Frisbee team at commercial space.”
Morehouse College, the first HBCU to commit to the sport. The company trains youth in culinary arts through its
Jeanne says Atlanta Hustle games are a wonderful foundation and helps place them in jobs. Chef Eric also speaks
family experience: athletic, affordable, outdoors, with kids on culinary and business topics.
under 12 free. “The athleticism is off the chain,” she Exquisite Delites is a DBE and MBE Certified Company and a
said. Atlanta Hustle offers youth clinics, camps, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses alumna. Learn more:
and scholarships to reach new players. Learn more: exqdelites.com
watchufa.com/hustle
“Food is love; eat well!”
“You come one time, and From Exquisite Delites website
you will be hooked. Now my friends
are season ticket holders.”
DeKalb Chamber of Commerce 404-378-8000 DeKalbChamber.org Jeanne Cheese DeKalb Chamber of Commerce 404-378-8000 DeKalbChamber.org 19