Pitch Black Food 2025

Pitch Black Food
Written By Jelani Memory

Seven chefs. One kitchen. A sold-out crowd.

This February, something magical happened at The Redd in Portland. We brought together the city’s most visionary Black culinary minds for the first-ever Pitch Black Food—a bold new addition to the Pitch Black movement.

And the people showed up. Tickets sold out in 8 hours. 150 food lovers gathered. And the night? Electric.

This wasn’t just a dinner. It was an experience. A celebration of Black excellence in the kitchen. A moment to see, taste, and feel the future of food.

Let Em’ Cook: The Big Winners of the Night 🍽️

Let’s start with the stars: Noori Cherry and Terrelle Bolton of Let Em’ Cook.

Their Sweet and Soft Fried Plantains, drizzled in allspice caramel with coconut milk ice cream and a gluten-free almond crumble, closed out the night with fireworks. Every bite told a story—of culture, comfort, and culinary confidence.

They walked away with the top cash prize, but more than that, they walked away as community favorites. A standing ovation-worthy dish, and a reminder that dessert can be bold, Black, and unforgettable.

The Menu: Every Dish Had a Story

Each chef brought more than flavor. They brought their roots. Their heritage. Their hustle. Here's what we feasted on:

Beverage

Affouet Price / HIBISBLOOM

  • White Hibiscus Sangria: Sweet, tart, and peach-hued perfection.

  • Afro Hibiscus Margarita Mocktail: A bright, refreshing remix of a classic.

Omni Appetizer

Tali Aynalem

  • Spiced Beef Hummus: Rich layers of seasoned beef, pillowy pita, and pickles that hit just right. Meet Tali

Veg Appetizer

Elsy Dinvil / Creole Me Up

  • Akra: Grated taro root, herbs, lime, and a perfect crunch, paired with house-made pikliz.

Omni Main Dish

Rashad Frazier / Camp Yoshi

  • Beef Cheek Ragu with Anson Mills Grits: Deep, soulful, and slow-cooked to perfection.

Veg Main Dish

Yosafe Murphy / SHEBA

  • Purple Cauliflower Steak: Charred and served over garlic rice with a dreamy non-dairy burgundy herb sauce.

Dessert

Noori & Terrelle / Let Em’ Cook

  • Fried Plantains, Allspice Caramel, Coconut Ice Cream, Almond Crumble: A mic-drop of a final course.

A New Chapter for Pitch Black

Pitch Black Food is more than a one-night event. It’s the beginning of a new tradition. A way to celebrate Black entrepreneurs by industry. And in food—where culture, creativity, and community collide—we found the perfect place to start.

We’re not done. Not even close.

Mark your calendars: Pitch Black returns to downtown Portland this August at The Armory. And if you missed out on Pitch Black Food this time, don’t worry. We’ll be back—with more chefs, more flavor, and more reasons to believe in Black ideas.

To every attendee, chef, and supporter: thank you. You made this night unforgettable.

Learn more about the chefs, their businesses, and how to support at pitchblack.org/founders.

Jelani Memory
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