Restaurant Week, DMV style
The craft cocktail community is small. Long before we met Andra Johnson we knew of her innovations in the beverage community. So we jumped at the opportunity to participate in DMV Black Restaurant Week 2019.
The week-long celebration encourages patrons and spirits brands to support restaurants owned by black and brown people. A list of participating establishments was distributed in major brands like Campari and Founding Spirits, which supported their efforts.
We were invited to host the signature cocktail competition honoring African-American beverage pioneers. We were all over that. Competitors one by one created their inspired cocktails in front of a live audience and a panel of esteemed judges. The winner of the $500 cash prize was Jacquie Sharpe. Her cocktail was as delicious as her performance was entertaining.
The week-long initiative to support business was concluded by a day of education. A full day of panels was held at Georgetown University. The conversations were led by professionals in academia, finance, restaurant development and marketing. Discussions included inter-generational wealth, the power of ownership and Black people in the beer industry.
I was most captivated by the keynote speaker, Warren Thompson of Thompson Hospitality Group. He shared his journey of owning over 100 restaurants and how he infiltrated the airport dining market, an industry I gave little thought to despite being a frequent flyer.
A perfect intersection of culture education and good food, DMV Black Restaurant Week should be added to every foodie’s calendar.
@dmvbrw #DMVbrw #TastetheCulture https://www.thompsonhospitality.com/ @whiteplatesblackfaces www.camparigroup.com https://www.foundingspirits.com/ @arcipelagobardc @crownsandhops @hanksoysterbar @bensnextdoor @pearldivedc
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