WHAT BEGAN AS a single week in a single city, Black Restaurant Weeks has expanded to become a two-week regional culinary experience.

This year's Houston event kicks off March 31 and runs through April 14, focused on reenergizing Black-owned restaurants, catering companies and food trucks; other cities such as Dallas, Austin, Denver and more will have their own dedicated weeks in 2024 as well.

A 2023 report from the James Beard Foundation reveals that 53 percent of culinary business owners experienced lower profits thanks to rising food and labor costs; additionally, those that are Black-owned experience systemic barriers like disproportionate access to business loans. With a mission to "feed and fuel the cultural famine," Black Restaurant Weeks is a marketing campaign that draws attention to opportunities to support the Black restaurant industry.

Black Restaurant Weeks will host a series of events at participating restaurants, and has a year-round directory for selecting and patronizing Black-owned businesses.