9th annual Richmond Black Restaurant Experience to showcase variety of Black-owned restaurants

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The 9th annual Richmond Black Restaurant Experience will kick off on Sunday with a variety of delicious food from local Black-owned restaurants.

The Richmond Black Restaurant Experience will run from Sunday, March 9 through Sunday, March 16 and feature food trucks, mobile vendors and restaurants in the Richmond area.

8News Anchors Autumn Childress and Delaney Hall spoke with Mimi Bowen with the Virginia Black Restaurant Experience and Shane Roberts Thomas, owner of Southern Kitchen, to learn more about the event.

Bowen said the Richmond Black Restaurant Experience will kick off with Mobile Soul Sunday at Monroe Park, located at 620 West Main Street in Richmond, from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday with about 32 food vendors, a marketplace and music.

"And then we encourage Richmond to eat all week," Bowen said. "So we are starting from Sunday, March 9 and then going all the way through March 16 where we stick a fork in it and we have the opportunity to celebrate the Black culinary experience that's really rooted right here in Richmond."

On Saturday, March 15, an Art for the Soul event will be held, and on Sunday, March 16, a Stick a Fork In It block party will take place, with details about these events to be announced on the Richmond Black Restaurant Experience's website.

Roberts said Southern Kitchen signed up for the Richmond Black Restaurant Experience when it first began.

"We are thankful to our Richmond Black Restaurant Experience for being there with us through the years," Roberts said. "We were day one signing on. We were [on] day one to believe in the brand, and the culture and the opportunity to excel."

Roberts showcased food from Southern Kitchen which she said she grew up eating as a child, such as ribs, macaroni and cheese, as well as collard greens.