DMV Black Restaurant Week Begins From November 4

DMV Black Restaurant Week, which brings together black restaurant owners, managers, chefs, caterers and financiers will be held across D.C. area from November 4 to 11^th.

The seven day event features competitions, conferences and meals on discount at restaurants and coffee shops across the D.C. area. Entrepreneurial venture options and education avenues will be discussed during the week.  Apart from promoting restaurants, existing restaurants will also be recognized at the event.

DMV Black Restaurant Week is the brainchild of Georgetown University professor Erinn Tucker, bar consultant Andra Johnson and chef/entrepreneur Furard Tate, who are also the event organizers.

“They bring their passion for entrepreneurship, hospitality, and education together to help businesses continue the legacy of dining in the region,” DMV Black Restaurant Week website says. “DMVbrw mission is to celebrate and support black hospitality, food, and beverage entrepreneurs and employees through awareness, professional development, external resources, and events.”

Restaurants, including coffee shops that are unable to serve multicourse meals will be offering discounts on their menus during the week.

“Here in the DMV, there is just so much talent, but at the same time, I’ve been reading a lot of stories that say, ‘Where are the black chefs? And where are the black managers and (general managers)?’ And they’re actually here, but there’s no platform,” said Erinn Tucker.

Furard Tate, who earlier ran a barbecue restaurant on H Street, said they can as a community build and sustain these restaurants for years to come. “We’re asking that the consumer be more educated in what they eat, where they eat, how they eat, because then that literally changes the whole industry,” said Tate.

Among other events planned throughout the week, there’s a cocktail competition on November 5 and a conversation is scheduled at The Wing with Elle Simone of the SheChef movement on November 8.

According to National Restaurant Association, eight percent of African Americans/Blacks comprise of restaurant owners and managers.