PRESS RELEASE
NEWS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oakland International Airport Welcomes Black History Month and
Annual Oakland Black Food & Wine Experience
Airport Dining Makeover Celebrates Oakland Culture, Promotes East Bay Chefs
Oakland, CA – (January 31, 2020): Construction walls are up in the terminals at Oakland International Airport (OAK), concealing the progress being made by an entirely new lineup of food and beverage concessionaires. The Airport entered 2020 serving nearly 13.4 million passengers, and with work underway toward a complete redesign of its dining program.
In both Terminals 1 and 2, Oakland favorites like District, Brown Sugar Kitchen, and Tay Ho are steadily moving toward construction. Over the course of this year, all 17 dining locations at OAK will house one of the winners of the Port of Oakland’s 2018 Request for Proposals.
The Airport was a sponsor of Visit Oakland’s 10th Annual Restaurant Week, and this week welcomes visitors arriving for the 4th Annual Oakland Black Food & Wine Experience, taking place this Saturday at Impact Hub in Oakland.
Port of Oakland Director of Aviation, Bryant L. Francis, said: “We are pleased to begin this year’s recognition of Black History Month in support of Oakland’s Black Food & Wine Experience. Food and travel have such an important nexus, and with the upgrades underway to OAK’s Food and Beverage program, now is a perfect time to elevate the visibility of the exciting happenings both at the Airport and in our local community.”
According to its creator, Aminah “Chef Mimi” Robinson, the Black Food & Wine Experience positions Oakland on the national food scene in a way that is inclusive to both the chefs and attendees. She says, “It is so important for this space to exist. Not only does it showcase Black excellence in Oakland, it supports a movement to create a stronger ecosystem for Black food & wine entrepreneurs by highlighting Bay Area Black chefs.”
Attendees at this year’s Black Food and Wine Experience will arrive in Oakland from points across the US.
Information about the Airport’s re-imagined Food & Beverage Concessions program is now available on the Airport’s website.
About Oakland International Airport
Oakland International is the most centrally-located airport in the 7.7M population Bay Area region, and closest airport to the region’s wealth of business and tourism venues. Oakland’s air service roster to over 50 nonstop destinations is offered on 12 different airline brands – four of which operate with OAK as their sole gateway into the San Francisco Bay region.
The vision of Oakland International Airport is to be the airport of choice for Bay Area residents and visitors alike. OAK is operated by the Port of Oakland, which also oversees the Oakland seaport and 20 miles of waterfront. Together with its business partners, the Port supports more than 84,000 jobs in the region with a $130 Billion Economic Impact.
For up-to-the-minute departure and arrival information, airport maps, and details on shopping, dining, transportation, and more, visit www.oaklandairport.com. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
About The Black Food & Wine Experience
Chef Mimi, Inc. is a boutique event business created by Aminah “Chef Mimi” Robinson, curating the hottest events and cultivate a new foodie environment for Black professionals. Each Guest is invited into the culinary space through the lens of African-American chefs and vintners. Patrons enjoy foods from local Black-owned restaurants, caterers, chefs and more.
The event is highlighted by an up-close and personal, interactive, live cooking competition with chefs from the “Bringing It to the Table” cooking show cast, curated by chef/producer Chef Mimi and a celebrity guest. Chef Mimi has grown the Black Food and Wine Experience from 2016 in a tiny kitchen with 100 guests to a sold-out event hosting crowds many times larger.
Black Food & Wine Experience Video
Media Contacts:
Oakland International Airport: Keonnis R. Taylor | KRTaylor@portoakand.com | 510-563-6500
Chef Mimi, Inc.: Press Inquiries | TheChefMimi@gmail.com | 510 302 8446
