The nation’s capital is looking to join the likes of Houston and New Orleans as one the few major cities across the country to host a restaurant week that spotlights some of the best Black own restaurants, Black chefs and Black cuisines the city has to offer. According to a report from The Washington City Paper, the chocolate city’s Black restaurant week is set to take place the week of November 4th under the direction of Andra “AJ” Johnson, Dr. Erinn Tucker, and Furard Tate.
As stated on the event’s official website, “DMVbrw will bring black restaurant owners, managers, chefs, caterers, thought leaders and financiers into one room to discuss options for entrepreneurial ventures and continuing education.” The website also adds, “The week not only promotes restaurants, with your help we desire to go further to recognize existing restaurants and close the gap that exists in knowledge by hosting a conference and panel discussion on Saturday featuring black owned food trucks and an awards brunch on Sunday spotlighting owners, managers, politicians, tastemakers and non-profit organizations that are blazing the trail and supports the community 365 days a year.”
Co-Founder, Andra Johnson, told local reporters, “We’re bringing in people from all over to come and talk about the issues plaguing this industry and more specifically this city with the lack of [black] ownership here … I think five or ten years ago a Black Restaurant Week wouldn’t have existed at all.”
As one would imagine, Def Pen will be in the nation’s capital to touch on all the major events of this inaugural event. Stay tuned for more coverage and updates as new details emerge.
