Welcome to Black Foodie Week,

Suzanne Barr is one of North America’s most respected chefs and a resident judge on Food Network Canada’s Wall of Chefs series. Growing up with two novice chefs, she’s cultivated a flair for Afro-Caribbean comfort food that’s indicative of her desire to make the ordinary, surprisingly extraordinary.

Carl Cassel, former owner of the Harlem Underground restaurant, is an outspoken Torontonian who expresses his art both on the canvas and the platter. He is most likely to be seen with a tool in hand, working on art projects while contemplating how to make Toronto a better urban space.

Ryan Hinkson’s @EatFamous Instagram page boasts over 250K followers and is one of the app’s most popular feeds thanks to his knack for spotting food trends and creating viral moments. An energetic influencer known for drool-worthy content, he’s worked with the industry’s biggest brands including McDonald’s, Domino’s Pizza, Hershey Canada, and others.

Abena Offeh-Gyimah is the Owner of Adda Blooms, a wholefoods and snack company that produces nutrient-dense goodies with natural African ingredients. Her passion for preserving indigenous plants and seeds is manifested in her relationships with small-scale farmers to grow and preserve ancestral African foods like baobab and tigernut.

Afia Amoako is a full-time PhD student in Epidemiology and the creator of The Canadian African blog. As a vegan, her blog and social media content are focused on showing her audience that it’s possible to live an ethical, plant-based lifestyle without losing cultural food traditions.

Joe Guildford Thomas holds a Certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from Cornell University's T Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies and is a tireless advocate of a plant-based lifestyle. He is the founder of Black Vegans of Toronto and is devoted to improving the health of African-Canadians in Ontario.

Paul Taylor is the Executive Director of FoodShare Toronto and a lifelong anti-poverty activist. Growing up materially poor in Toronto, he has used his experience to fuel a career focused on helping others and dismantling the beliefs and systems that lead to poverty and food insecurity.

Leticia Deawuo immigrated from Pepease, Ghana to Toronto’s Jane & Finch neighbourhood where she grew up with a strong sense of community. She is now the Executive Director of Black Creek Community Farm, where she engages local residents and stakeholders in improving food security and justice for the neighbourhood.

Chef Bashir Munye is a culinary professor, consultant/recipe developer, and an academic researcher whose approach to cooking is influenced heavily by his Somali-Italian upbringing and his relationships with local farmer’s markets. He is a passionate believer in and advocate for access to good quality food for all.

Randell Adjei is a passionate and devoted leader in his community who currently serves as the Executive and Creative Director of R.I.S.E (Reaching Intelligent Souls Everywhere) Edutainment. He’s an inspirational speaker who spreads the message of personal alchemy while encouraging audiences to find their purpose.

Eden Hagos is a celebrated host, food writer, and founder of BLACK FOODIE, a versatile media platform. An Ethiopian-Canadian with a passion for exploring the African diaspora, she's focused on changing the global conversation around Black food culture through unique events, branded content, and strategic initiatives.

Chef Raquel Fox grew up in The Bahamas where she learned the nuances of island cooking from her grandmother. A restaurant proprietor with over 15 years in the food industry, she is a chef and instructor at George Brown College and the author of Dining in Paradise.

Princess Oroma, originally from Port Harcourt City in Nigeria, is a food blogger and foodpreneur from Toronto. As a passionate creative, she enjoys infusing flavours from various regions. Princess runs a food blog, launched in 2015, and a catering business named Sarima Fine Foods.

Chris De La Rosa is the man behind CaribbeanPot.com, an online destination for everything Caribbean food culture that regularly reaches over 1M people. An energetic host with an ability to make anyone feel welcome, he’s the author of The Vibrant Caribbean Pot — 100 Traditional And Fusion Recipes, Vol 2.

Adrian Forte is a professional chef, restaurateur , TV personality, and culinary consultant for a number of food service groups in Toronto. Originally from Jamaica, his style of cooking draws inspiration from his roots, using flavours from Africa and the Caribbean islands while applying classic French techniques.

Christina Veira has been named one of the 100 most influential figures in the global bar industry by Bar World 100. A versatile beverage industry leader, she leverages her platform to help decision-makers rethink the management of the hospitality industry, especially as it relates to intersectionality, empathy, and safety.

Noel Cunningham is an award-winning Jamaican-Canadian chef, cookbook author, food writer, and culinary consultant. He’s best known for creating elegant, Caribbean fusion-inspired cuisine through this best-selling cookbook, Cuisine by Noel and via television appearances, his Facebook Live cooking shows, and through his weekly articles in the Toronto Caribbean Newspaper.

Mofer Coffee is a specialty Ethiopian coffee shop that roasts coffee in small batches throughout the day, ensuring patrons enjoy the freshest coffee possible. From the craftsmanship of their stores, to bringing customers the best coffee flavour with steep and filter methods, their goal is to build community through coffee.

Tayo Bero is an award-winning freelance culture writer and radio producer. Her work appears in publications like Chatelaine Magazine, Teen Vogue, the Guardian and CBC Radio. Covering issues spanning race, culture, feminism and the African diaspora, Tayo is committed to uplifting marginalized voices and telling unique stories.