Long Beach is gearing up to host its 3rd annual Black Restaurant Week from Jan. 21-28, 2024, to celebrate the city’s Black food culture. This eight-day event, orchestrated by Axiom Kitchen, aims to unite diverse communities while spotlighting African, African American, and Caribbean cuisines across Long Beach and its surrounding areas.
At its core, Long Beach Black Restaurant Week serves as a platform for elevating Black-owned culinary ventures, acknowledging the prowess of Black chefs, bartenders, and food artisans. Axiom Kitchen’s Executive Chef, Qiana Mafnas, expressed enthusiasm about the event’s evolution: “We’re thrilled to take the reins after witnessing the success of the first two years. This is a fantastic opportunity to shine a spotlight on other Black-owned culinary ventures and welcome food enthusiasts from all backgrounds through their doors.”
Nika Shoemaker-Machado, proprietor of Georgia’s Restaurant at the Long Beach Exchange, shared her excitement, highlighting the substantial impact the event has had on their business: “Participating in Long Beach Black Restaurant Week over the past two years has significantly boosted our guest visits and sales unlike any other restaurant week we’ve been part of.”
The event is open for participation to a broad spectrum of Black-owned culinary ventures, including restaurants, food trucks, caterers, bakeries, pop-ups, cottage businesses, and retail food establishments. Participants get the chance to engage with a wider audience, fostering connections and visibility within the community.
A rich lineup of participants has already signed up for this year’s festivities, including well-loved establishments like Georgia’s Restaurant, Pop N Flavors, Smakk’d Refreshers, and many more. Moreover, pop-up events featuring various cottage businesses are set to be announced soon, adding an exciting dynamic to the week-long celebration.
Axiom Kitchen, the driving force behind this culinary celebration, is helmed by Ian and Qiana Mafnas, a dynamic husband-and-wife team with over two decades of combined restaurant experience. Their passion for smoking meats and culinary expertise, combined with a dedicated family and team, fuels the spirit of Axiom Kitchen, shaping it into a community hub for food enthusiasts.
As the countdown begins for Long Beach Black Restaurant Week, anticipation brews for a week filled with flavors, community engagement, and a celebration of culinary excellence steeped in culture and heritage.
For more information, visit their website: blackrestaurantweeklb.com
