Welcome!

Black Food & Beverage celebrates a community of chefs, sommeliers, farmers, restauranteurs, servers, bartenders, writers, and more; a group that is powerfully present within all parts of the food and beverage industry. We know today’s food culture has been shaped by the contributions of the Black culinarians. We know representation and documentation of our contributions are important. We know we are the trendsetters, never a trend. 

At Black Food & Beverage you’ll find a series of stories on a brilliant and a diverse group of Black F&B professionals like Stephanie Hart, the owner of Brown Sugar Bakery in Chicago, and chef Elle Simone of America’s Test Kitchen. 

Black Food & Beverage explores the paths taken because, for me, beauty is in the journey. Our paths aren’t always linear ones, especially for Black F&B professionals who navigate systems and policies that have long been rooted in racism. I hope this site will serve as a guidepost for future generations to see the varying careers available in F&B — and to know that they do belong.

I started Black Food & Beverage after working in the F&B industry for decades where I’d seen how exclusionary narratives that centered the white gaze helped to perpetuate an incomplete and unrealistic image of the industry. I longed for robust stories about the Black F&B community. And what began as a passion project, officially launching in 2018 with photographer and writer Alisha Sommer, has evolved into much, much more. Black Food & Beverage has become a dwelling place for the Black F&B community. 

As you read through each profile, please take a moment to support the work of every individual. I’m sure they’d appreciate a love note — good vibes only. You can also connect with Black Food & Beverage on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook at @blackfandb. 

Cheers,
Angela Burke
Food Writer & Creator of Black Food & Beverage