Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser invites residents and visitors to celebrate the launch of Dine All Night, the newest addition to the popular annual Art All Night program. Supported by the DC Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD), Dine All Night will feature unique menus, experiences and offerings from over 60 restaurants across […]
Category: Food
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Chipotle will pay $300,000 to resolve allegations of child labor law violations in D.C.
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, msayles@afro.com After an investigation into allegations of D.C. child labor law violations, Chipotle Mexican Grill (Chipotle) has agreed to pay the city $322,400 and institute a new training and workplace compliance plan. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) reportedly determined hundreds of instances of minors working more hours […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
New after-dinner lounge KANVAS opens in D.C.
By Chrisleen Herard, Special to the AFRO Kevin Kelley’s Kitchen + Kocktails restaurant fed the mouths of Dallas and Chicago before opening its third location just minutes away from the White House in Washington, D.C. On Sept. 1, Kelley left another signature in the hospitality industry with the unveiling of his KANVAS lounge, which is […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
PRESS ROOM: PepsiCo Foundation, National Urban League and the Greater Baltimore Urban League Host Culinary Tasting Event to Celebrate Black Owned Restaurants
By PRNewswire BALTIMORE, Sept. 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — The PepsiCo Foundation, National Urban League and Greater Baltimore Urban League are pleased to announce the first Culinary Tasting Event in honor of the Black Restaurant Accelerator Program. The one-night event will showcase grantees of the program and highlight success stories emerging from this impactful partnership. The […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Ben’s Chili Bowl celebrates 65 years of excellence
By AFRO Staff Halfsmokes, hot chili and warm smiles flooded the U Street corridor on Aug. 22 as the Ali family celebrated 65 years of ownership at the D.C. franchise, Ben’s Chili Bowl. The married couple Ben and Virginia Ali founded the restaurant in 1958 and have sown seeds in the community as a staple […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Celebrating culture and flavor: the Jollof Festival returns to D.C. on Aug. 6
By Askya Alexander, Special to the AFRO A diverse tapestry of communities coalesce in the nation’s capital. In the midst of this vibrant cultural diaspora lies an incredible array of foods, traditions and delights from all corners of the world. On Aug. 6, the city’s long-standing tradition of fostering multicultural fellowship will prove no different […]
Posted inBaltimore News
International food and culture on full display at “Global Entry” event
By AFRO Staff Members of the international community came together with local residents at Current Space on July 23 for an extraordinary event called “Global Entry.” The captivating affair was a celebration of cultural diversity, showcasing the richness of global food and music to local residents. Global Entry, hosted by Gaia Bethel-Birch, Malaika Aminata Clements […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Black Girls Cook: how one nonprofit is raising the next batch of confident, top tier chefs
By Aria Brent, AFRO Staff Writer, abrent@afro.com Food is a vital part of any culture, but the rich history behind many of the foods enjoyed and created by Black people is what makes it one-of-a-kind. Remembering and passing down the recipes for Black food has long been crucial to preserving Black culture and Black history. […]
Posted inBUSINESS
Ben’s Chili Bowl: the Black restaurant surviving and thriving through six decades
By DaQuan Lawrence, AFRO International Writer, DLawrence@afro.com Whether you know it as “1213 U Street”, “the Bowl”, or “1213 U Street, NW, Washington D.C”., the address for Ben’s Chili Bowl has become a foundation of Washington, D.C. The restaurant has become near synonymous with the nation’s capital, feeding millions of customers from around the world, […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Premier Black-owned restaurants to visit in the Washington, D.C. area during Black Restaurant Week
By DaQuan Lawrence, AFRO International Writer, DLawrence@afro.com The greater Washington, D.C. region is known for an abundance of quality restaurants that offer customers a variety of food options and experiences. The following list includes some of the top Black restaurants in the DMV. In addition to having a historically significant Black population that has contributed […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
How we made it over: a look at how Black restaurants in the nation’s capital survived a global pandemic
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, msayles@afro.com When Prince George’s County native Olumide Shokunbi noticed there was an opportunity in the fast-casual restaurant space for African food, he quickly acquired an LLC for Spice Kitchen West African Grill. Shokunbi’s plan worked like a charm, and soon, he was well on his way to opening a […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
AFRO Spotlight on Black excellence: meet first-time restaurateur Deirdre Holliday-White, owner of D.C.’s Flavor Garden
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, msayles@afro.com Deirdre Holliday-White was inspired to open her first restaurant, the Flavor Garden, in Washington, D.C., out of personal tribulations. She initially started a career in hotel and restaurant management, but after graduating from culinary school at Stratford University’s Tysons Corner campus, the D.C. native discovered her mother was […]