Top Long Beach Black Chefs to Prepare and Serve Lunch at Long Beach Rescue Mission

Three top chefs will offer their culinary talents during a unique event at the Long Beach Rescue Mission ahead of the inaugural Long Beach Black Restaurant Week.

LONG BEACH – Long Beach Rescue Mission, 1335 Pacific Ave., will host a unique culinary event on Jan. 18, giving residents and others in need a chance to experience the inaugural Long Beach Black Restaurant Week first-hand with an exclusive lunch prepared and served by three top Long Beach Black Chefs. 

Chef Ronnie Woods of Northtown Bistro Pop-up, Chef Vida Virgillito of Gone Loco Food Truck, and Chef Quianna Bradley of A Pinch of Salt Catering will treat over 250 homeless men, women, and children to a multi-course lunch at the Mission to give a taste of the inaugural event meant for everyone in the Long Beach community.

“Despite its size, Long Beach is a tightly knit community where diversity and civic pride is our strength,” said Chef Ronnie Woods, proprietor of Northtown Bistro.  “My fellow chefs and I are excited to kick off Long Beach Black Restaurant Week by treating those most vulnerable in our city to an unforgettable meal.”

“The participating chefs felt this was a great way to give back to the community doing what we do best,” added Chef Vida Virgillito, proprietor of the new Gone Loco food truck. “Cooking with love!”

Long Beach Food & Beverage, the organizers of the inaugural event, announced the plans for this charitable meal today which will precede the kickoff of the Long Beach Black Restaurant Week set to run from Jan. 23-30. 

The eight day event is devoted to celebrating African, African-American and Caribbean fare in and around Long Beach. It also seeks to highlight Black-owned culinary businesses as well as Black chefs and bartenders. It will feature over a dozen participating restaurants, pop-ups, food trucks and cottage food businesses.

“We realize that there are many among us who won’t get the chance to dine out during Black Restaurant Week,” stated Terri Henry, Long Beach Food & Beverage’s Executive Director. 

“So serving a gourmet meal to our neighbors struggling with homelessness is our way of bringing Black Restaurant Week to them and including everyone in the event.” 

Long Beach Rescue Mission serves daily meals to those in need in the Long Beach community. Through food and monetary donations as well as partnerships with local organizations and businesses, the Mission is able to provide meals to around 250,000 meals per year. For more information on the Long Beach Rescue Mission, visit https://lbrm.org/.

By Alysia Burke