Soulful, flavour-packed, and dynamic, Feed the Soul Dining Week lets you experience the world of Afro-Caribbean dishes like never before. Founded in 2023 by Rochelle Ignacio as a means of showcasing more Black-owned businesses and restaurants during Black History Month, it also demonstrates how Black-owned hospitality and food establishments have shifted the Edmonton dining and hospitality landscape for the better.
Founder and co-lead of the organization, Rochelle Ignacio was inspired to begin this journey of showcasing the diverse Black-owned food and beverage community in Edmonton by the popular Netflix series High on the Hog, which documents the principles of transformation and Black history. Like High on the Hog, Feed the Soul Dining week highlights how African and Caribbean cuisine has transformed the culinary landscape of Alberta, especially in Edmonton.
Feed the Soul creates opportunities for Black-owned businesses and restaurants to showcase their cuisine and culture while forming connections to the Edmonton community at large. “We think our work is important because we are providing resources not just through our work but also through collaboration with allies,” says Sara Awatta, another co-lead.
One of the allies that provide Feed the Soul business participants with resources to flourish beyond the main dining week is Bonafide Media, a public relations firm based in Alberta. “They really help us to streamline our messaging and also to help the restaurants with media-ready kits as there are not a lot of opportunities for Black-owned restaurants and businesses in general to have access to this sort of resource,” says Sara. As such, Feed the Soul is more than a dining week; it is also a source of support.
This year’s Feed the Soul Dining Week (February 2-11) will once again feature 13 plus restaurants, retail, home-based and online stores across Edmonton. With participating restaurants like Lloyd’s Patty Distro and Liberian Cuisine on Wheels providing some of the mouthwatering dishes for the week. Participants can also expect a Patty-Palooza, a celebration of the Jamaican patty and more!
