EatOkra held its inaugural Culinary Creatives Conference, shifting its work from the app to in-person for a day, in one of its largest initiatives yet.
Taking place at Metropolitan Pavilion in lower Manhattan, a roster of activities filled the nine-hour event, including panel discussions, cooking demos, and food tastings.
Most importantly, it was a chance for Black food entrepreneurs to gain exposure and network with others in the food industry.
EatOkra CEO and co-founder Anthony Edwards Jr. said the event has been years in the making.
“It’s like the grand vision of having conversations that are important that we have in our community — important around education and finance and how we build businesses together,” he said.
For vendors, the event was an opportunity to expand their reach. “What’s good is we’re here showcasing ice cream, but next to us is another brand,” said NYC native Michael J. Cole, owner of Mikey Likes It Ice Cream, at his ice cream cart. “We’re able to learn from them, add them to our community. That’s what today is really about: building community and a greater network for us to be able to flourish in the future.”
The conference also fostered an inclusive environment, said Melba Wilson, award-winning chef and owner of Melba’s Restaurant. “There are so many spaces for other people, but here at EatOkra, we have a seat at the table in the house that we built,” Wilson said. “That’s important.”
According to data from the National Restaurant Association, only 9% of restaurants are Black-owned.
Wilson pointed to insufficient funding as an obstacle for Black food entrepreneurs, saying that Black-owned food businesses are undercapitalized and owners often lack access to information.
“I’m going into 20 years next year, [and] I’m still learning,” she said.
The Culinary Creatives Conference by EatOkra aims to level the food industry playing field by empowering Black-owned food businesses with invaluable support and resources.
“I want sales for my exhibitors, but I also want them to come away having met one or a couple of people [who] are going to help them six months from now, nine months from now — just really put them on the right path to whatever that is for the next step in their journey,” said Edwards.