Experience all that Oakland has to offer when you shop local this holiday season. From hand crafted makers creations, local fashion designs, vintage treasures, foodie finds, and eclectic shops filled with unique gifts – Oakland is the place to find the perfect present for someone special.

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Returns in June 2025


The Black Food & Wine Experience returns to Oakland June 1, 2024. Founded by Chef Mimi, its mission is to provide a space where hospitality and Black excellence are cultivated, celebrated, and explored by all. Indulge in a delightful fusion of flavors, rich heritage of foods, wine, and cocktails inspired by the Diaspora.

This event will be held at The Bridge Yard, located at Burma Road, Oakland, CA, USA. Plan your trip and take advantage of these amazing hotel deals!

Savor a selection of fine wines and handcrafted cocktails that complement the dishes created for this very special evening. Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of black culture, from music to art, creating an experience like no other. Dress to impress! This is not just a foodie event; it's a fashion statement so embrace your style, wear your favorite sneakers and let it shine! Suggested attire: All Black, African inspired or Bold Colors AND Sneakers. (Sneaker ball attire). GET TICKETS NOW!
 

 



About the Black Food & Wine Experience


Founded by Aminah “Chef Mimi” Robinson-Briscoe, the Black Food & Wine Experience, a mission-driven event created to bridge food, beverage, education, health, and Black culture. Its mission is to provide a space where hospitality and Black excellence are cultivated, celebrated, and explored by all. Through its Black Food & Beverage Summit, the Black Food & Wine Experience invests in educational programs and initiatives to support Black & indigenous-owned Food & Beverage entrepreneurs to create the next generation of hospitality leaders. Since 2016, the Black Food & Wine Experience has supported more than 150 Bay Area businesses, impacted over $1 million in sales, created and placed over 50+ Jobs, provided structure to new businesses and revenue to the City of Oakland through hotel stay, airfare, transportation, restaurant visits, wine tastings.
 

About Chef Mimi


A proud Oakland native, Aminah “Chef Mimi” Robinson-Briscoe is the founder of the Black Food & Wine Experience. She is passionate about bringing Black culture and food together for the most amazing culinary experiences. For more than a decade, she has focused on the often-overlooked intersection of food, social justice, and entertainment. In her article “Black Girls Don’t Eat Avocados: A Holistic View of Food Disparities in the Black Community,” Chef Mimi shares her own personal food journey and the philosophy that informs her work.

Through Chef Mimi LLC, Chef Mimi has brought to life three distinct brands: The Black Food & Wine Experience, an interactive annual event that bridges food, beverage, education, health, and Black culture, "Bringing It to The Table," the first culinary competition show highlighting the talent and passion of Black chefs, and Chef Mimi Catering, a boutique catering company that services Bay Area tech companies such as Facebook, Slack, Twilio and Lyft as well as non-profits and cultural events like the Coalition of Black Excellence and ESSENCE Festival. 

A graduate of the California Culinary Arts Academy in San Francisco, Chef Mimi is an active board member of the Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce and Diablo Valley College’s culinary and wine program. Most recently, she was recognized on the list of 2021 Forbes Next 1000, which highlights entrepreneurial heroes who are redefining what it means to build and run a business today.  

Chef Mimi Headshot