Culinary celebration kicks off Feb. 26

Get those appetites ready, y’all. The annual event Black Restaurant Week San Antonio is set to kick off Feb. 26 and run through March 5.

With 30 participating restaurants and business signed up and multiple special events scheduled, this year’s celebration of Black-owned entrepreneurs is sure to satisfy just about any craving you might have.

Launched by Maryland native Ryane Smith in 2019, Black Restaurant Week San Antonio aims to highlight the wide range of food and culinary traditions the African diaspora has contributed to the city’s dining scene.

During Black Restaurant Week San Antonio, participating businesses contribute $1 from the purchase of a featured menu item to a local charity or nonprofit. This year’s benefiting organization is the San Antonio Food Bank. Black Restaurant Week San Antonio has again partnered with the Tim Duncan Foundation, launched by the Spurs legend in 2001, which has matched donations to the San Antonio Food Bank during the weeklong event since 2021.

This year’s roster of participating restaurants includes The Jerk Shack, helmed by Lattoia Massey, better known as Chef

Nicola Blaque, who recently earned a semifinalist nomination in the Best Chef: Texas category of the James Beard Foundation’s 2023 Restaurant and Chef Awards.

Other notable participants include husband-and-wine Steven and Cindy Harris’ Mr. A Ok’s Kitchen, which has drawn attention for its outstanding meatloaf and fried chicken.

Roger Crombie and Jodi-Ann Brown’s Real Real Jamaica restaurant, known for its curried goat, will also serve Caribbean flavors. Noted Cibolo-based pitmaster Ray Harmon of Harmon’s Barbecue will bring the smoke and heat with his celebrated take on Texas-style barbecue.

Vegan options are also well represented, with Sweet Yams, owned by Gus and Shannon Bard, and Southern Roots Vegan Bakery, led by chef Cara Pitts, also participating.

Scheduled events include a March 1 wine tasting at Wine 210 from 6 to 9 p.m. and a March 4 cocktail class at Carmens

De La Calle from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

For more details and a full list of participants and events, visit blackrestaurantweek sanantonio.com.

William Luther/Staff file photo This year’s event will benefit the San Antonio Food Bank. Among the participants is The Jerk Shack co-owner Lattoia Massey, better known as Chef Nicola Blaque.

Mike Sutter/Staff file photo Roger Crombie and Jodi-Ann Brown of Real Real Jamaica will participate in Black Restaurant Week San Antonio.

Mike Sutter/Staff file photo Pitmaster Ray Harmon of Harmon’s Barbecue is bringing the smoke with his celebrated Texas-style barbecue.