Houston’s official Black Restaurant Week (April 3rd – April 10th) is dedicated to increasing the awareness, support and patronization of Black owned restaurants in the city. A portion of the week’s proceeds will be donated to Change Happens! a local non-profit dedicated to empowering our youth.
Houston Black Restaurant Week consists of a jam packed lineup of events to get the community out and moving! A Culinary showcase, Panel Discussion featuring Black Industry Professionals, Networking Mixer, Pop-up Dinner and a Bartending Competition is what you have to look forward to Houston, so buckle your seat belts…or more importantly, get involved!
“Black Restaurant Week,” is a movement sweeping across the nation from Memphis to Chicago and now HOUSTON and we here at Gristle & Gossip couldn’t be more excited about it! As a Houston Foodie It’s important that a foundation be created to support those “Mom & Pop” restaurants who may not get as much attention as other establishments in the city. Houston Black Restaurant Week was created to do just that.
But the week of events in not only focused on Black owned restaurants, but Houston’s Black chefs, caterers, bartenders, industry and young professionals. Check out all there is to know below, and visit the Houston Black Restaurant Week website to learn more on how you can get involved! 
Houston Black Restaurant Week starts with Aroma, a free event open to all Industry professionals. The event consists of a panel discussion of Black industry professionals sharing their knowledge and expertise on “Being Black in the Business.” Panelist include Jevaughn Sterling – SVP for Amegy Bank, Lyndell Cogshell – Smoothie King Franchise Owner, Chef Chris Williams – Owner of Lucille’s and Scrappy Brown’s and Jerry Bradshaw – City of Houston, Sanitation dept. *Complimentary Spiked lemonade, courtesy of Grandma’s Boys Lemonade, provided to all guests upon entry!*
Aroma is followed by Houston Black Restaurant Week’s official Kick-off party and culinary showcase. NOSH is dedicated to Houston’s Black Chefs & Caterers. With over 20 + chefs and caterers confirmed to participate this is the event for the true foodies.
The Ensemble Theater will be the backdrop for this eater’s paradise event with some of Houston’s Hottest caterers in the mix. NOSH Offers a great variety of items, both savory and sweet. You can count on delicious cupcakes, cookies and pie samples from Cupcake Kitchen and Not Jus’ Donuts of TLC’s “Bakery Boss,” and savory bites from Acclaimed Chef Javani King , whose recent departure from Davis St. at Hermann Park has allowed him the space to focus on the launch of his new food truck!
Houston Black Restaurant Week highlight’s Houston’s Culinary celebrities too! The Art of Flavor: A Pop Up Dinner, is one that you won’t want to miss. Hosted by the Aces of Taste at HMAAC, Chef Ja’Nel Witt, Season 11 winner of Hell’s Kitchen, will be showcasing her Moroccan Inspired cuisine to an intimate crowd of 40. The event kicks off with a hosted cocktail and wine hour with Branwar Wines, Houston’s premier South African Wine Distributing Co.
Movers & Shakers: A Networking Mixer is for Houston’s young and professional crowd. A mixed menu of delicious bites from Davis St. at Hermann Park, Premium rolled cigars courtesy of Stogie Boyz, cocktails, music and causal conversation is what you will be in for, April 6th from 6:00 – 9:00 pm. Movers and Shakers of Greater Houston is a social group providing networking events that offer African Americans an opportunity to establish relationships & grow their professional networks. Click here for more on Movers and Shakers!
Partake in the finale event of Houston Black Restaurant Week by indulging in cocktails made with the freshest ingredients from local Black-owned farms. Power of the Palate: A Bartending Competition, featuring an intense show down featuring some of Houston’s Hottest Black Bartenders, April 9 at Bar 5015.
Competing Bartenders will be given 5 minutes to create their signature cocktail and will be judged on creativity, presentation, flavor and personal bartending style (each worth up to 5 points). Guest Judges include Houston’s dynamic blogging duo Urban Swank who are pro’s at this type of action! The competition will highlight a variety of cocktails with various bases including: grey goose vodka, sapphire gin, cazadores reposado, bacardi white rum an dusse cognac. Who will walk away with the true “Power of the Palate?” See for yourself, get your tickets here!
With all of these fun events occurring, don’t forget to stop into Houston’s Black Owned restaurants that will be participating in Houston Black Restaurant Week. They’ve created some tasty special menus in honor of the week for Brunch. Lunch and Dinner, April 3rd – April 10th . Visit their amazing website, created by Fade Media, to see the current menus.
