Woodley Park neighborhood welcomes first Black-owned restaurant – WTOP News

Cheers crammed the air in Northwest D.C. as two hard-working cooks with huge desires celebrated the grand opening of their restaurant — Flavorture — the primary Black-owned restaurant within the Woodley Park neighborhood.

Household, mates and supporters, even metropolis officers and enterprise leaders, got here out to observe Chef Mac and Chef Pinke minimize the ribbon on their new American delicacies restaurant, nestled on twenty fourth Avenue within the shadow of the Omni Shoreham Resort.

“Flavorture is upscale American delicacies. We received elevated soul meals. Now we have vegan dishes. We’re a twist on excellence, and we satisfaction ourselves on nice taste and nice tradition vibes,” stated Chef Mac, who started cooking at 8 years outdated at his dwelling in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

Each cooks are co-owners of Flavorture and have labored independently as Washington-based caterers.

“We have been two separate corporations that merged collectively and made this enormous collision which is now Flavorture. So he’s the flavour, I’m the tradition — mainly the place taste meets tradition,” stated Chef Pinke, who first discovered to prepare dinner from her grandmother and mom in Southeast D.C.

Supporters crowded beneath tents outdoors the restaurant to have a good time the grand opening.

“Do we now have vitality occurring this afternoon?” requested at-large councilmember Kenyan McDuffie to the cheers from the group.

“This can be a nice day not just for Pinke and Mac, it is a nice day for Washington D.C. … I’m enthusiastic about that as a result of we’ve received a Black-owned restaurant proper right here, smack-dab in Woodley Park, within the nation’s capital. It doesn’t occur each day,” stated McDuffie.

The enterprise has the backing of the District authorities.

“It’s Black Historical past Month and supporting our Black companies is crucial. Black companies want our assist and so they want our likes,” stated Kristi Whitfield, director of the Division of Small and Native Enterprise Improvement.

Flavorture’s owner-chefs stated the restaurant gives a homey environment.

“Once we designed this place — we designed it so when folks are available in, they felt like they have been dwelling,” stated Chef Mac.

“The vibe is simply stress-free, actually. Upscale American soul meals, so only a dwelling vibe with a bit of model,” stated Chef Pinke.

What concerning the meals?

“The most effective sellers proper now has been our beef brief rib sliders. We’ve received superb lobster and blue crab scampi pasta dish that’s performed actually, rather well. Upcoming: we’re going to be introducing a pan-seared duck breast — that’s one of many issues I’m very enthusiastic about. And we now have a full-line vegan menu that we now have arising,” stated Chef Mac.