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Florida Black Restaurant Week lands in Tampa Bay, other cities later this month

November 16, 2020November 29, 2020 by Alexandria Ebron

I remember earlier this year when 7th and Grove owner Jamaris Glenn and I were finished with our interview for A Soulful Taste. We talked about how there aren’t too many instances where Black-owned restaurants in Tampa Bay get the same shine as everyone else and we should create an event to highlight them all. Fortunately, someone else had the same idea but on a bigger scale.

The first Black Restaurant Week began in 2016 and is now in 11 different cities. Florida Black Restaurant Week debuts November 26-December 6 in Tampa Bay, Orlando, Jacksonville, and Miami/Ft. Lauderdale. I spoke to co-founder Derek Robinson and got all the deets and what it’s all about:

“This year has seen a lot of civil unrest nationwide due to injustices against the Black community. From pesky Karens not minding their business to a myriad of protests bringing attention to police brutality, sometimes it’s good to escape from the craziness and take a few moments to feed the soul with some good food.

Black Restaurant Week was founded in April 2016 by friends Derek Robinson, Falayn Ferrell, and Warren Luckett in Houston, Texas to highlight the flavors of the African, African American, and Caribbean cuisines. Originally a week-long experience, it was extended to two weeks after overwhelming support from the Houston community.

“Houston is a huge melting pot of flavors. There’s so much to offer here and the city is one of the most diverse campaigns for Black Restaurant Week,” Robinson tells Creative Loafing Tampa Bay.

The restaurant weeks became a hit and expanded to Atlanta and the Bay Area (San Francisco/Oakland) in 2017. Now, Black Restaurant Week is in 11 different markets across the U.S.—including Tampa Bay where it’s making a Florida debut from Nov. 27-Dec. 6. Participating cities include Jacksonville, Orlando, Miami, and Ft. Lauderdale.”

Registration is still open for Florida restaurants here. Read the rest of the my story about Florida Black Restaurant Week here.

A list of participating Tampa and Orlando restaurants: