For the first time ever, get ready to experience a weeklong culinary celebration that combines food, beverage, education, health, and Black culture. The highly anticipated Black Food & Wine Experience is returning for its sixth celebration from June 11-18, 2023. This year, the event is expanding beyond Oakland to locations throughout the vibrant San Francisco Bay Area.
During this exciting week, individuals from all backgrounds are invited to indulge in the diverse flavors of the African Diaspora, meet industry veterans as well as up-and-coming Black chefs, winemakers, and spirit makers, and immerse themselves in the latest trends and culinary experiences. The Black Food & Wine Experience, founded by the talented Aminah “Chef Mimi” Robinson-Briscoe, aims to create a space where Black excellence and hospitality are celebrated and explored by everyone.
One of the highlights of this year's event is the second annual Black Food & Beverage Summit, specifically designed to support BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) Food & Beverage entrepreneurs. Led by Colleen Vincent, the Vice President of Community for the James Beard Foundation, the summit will take place on June 15, 2023, at 1955 Broadway in Oakland. This industry-focused event aims to facilitate community building, recruitment, and provide educational panel discussions on topics such as access to entry and funding, business resources, and navigating the food and beverage industry.
2023 Speakers
- Julia Collins, founder, and CEO, Planet FWD
- Sheila Hackbarth, director of sales and business development, Moët Hennessy US
- Fern Stroud, founder, Black Vines
- Kai Nortey, CEO and co-founder, kubé Nice Cream
- Dr. Chris Wachira, owner of Wachira Wines and Karibu Wine Lounge
- Chadwick D. Spell, chief operating officer, Wachira Wines
- Alicia Kidd, Coco Noir Wine Shop & Bar
- Julian Peebles and Tory Brown, Common Ground Spirits
- Lamont Perriman, owner, Montperi Catering and Events
More Program Highlights
The Afro-Caribbean Experience - June 13 (5 or 7 p.m.) - Lita’s Restaurant & Bar
Nourish your soul and appetite as we embrace Juneteenth with Sabor Caribe, an extraordinary epicurean adventure celebrating the African influence in Caribbean culture. In partnership with Gabriela Fernandez of The Big Sip and Lita Walnut Creek, The Black Food and Wine Experience invites everyone to immerse themselves in a joyous Afro-Caribbean celebration. Join Chef Sean Streete as he incorporates his Trinidadian and Tobagonian heritage with Latin spices and flavors to create a four-course dinner and cocktail pairing.
Of course, no feast is complete without entertainment! Sabor Caribe will feature dancers, live music, and iconic Black & Latin community members from the greater Bay Area. Experience a full taste of Afro-Caribbean culture fused with upscale Miami vibes as we come together in the heart of Walnut Creek. Two seatings are available, at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively.
Black Wall Street Dinner - June 14 (7-10 p.m.) - Oakland Museum of California
Join Chef Mimi and Chef Michelle of Town Fare at the Oakland Museum of California for an intimate, candlelit Tastemakers dinner to celebrate diversity, Juneteenth, and the legacy of Black Wall Street.
The Grand Tasting - June 17 (7 -11 p.m.) - San Francisco Ferry Building
Sample the food, wine, and cocktails of the African Diaspora at The Black Food & Wine Experience's Grand Tasting in the renowned San Francisco Ferry Building. Celebrate Black culture and excellence alongside your fellow foodies while savoring the creations of celebrated and rising chefs, restaurants, winemakers, and spirit purveyors. The event will feature limited available wines, barrel samples, and culinary concepts bursting with incomparable flavor. Additionally, attendees can enjoy live entertainment and activations, followed by an exclusive afterparty at the members-only SF Battery.
Sponsors for the Black Food & Wine Experience include Treasury Wine Estates, Bacardi, J-Harden Wines, San Francisco Ferry Building Marketplace, Visit Oakland, ESO Ventures, and the Oakland African-American Chamber of Commerce.
For sponsorship inquiries and complete program details, please visit www.thechefmimi.com/bfwe.
To purchase tickets, click here.
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