What began nearly a decade ago in the heart of South Florida is now a national movement. Chef Kulture, founded in the historic Sistrunk community of Fort Lauderdale in 2016, will once again bring together Black and BIPOC culinary professionals for a transformative gathering: the 2025 State of Black Food (SOBF). Taking place August 28–31 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, this four-day conference builds on Florida-grown roots to reimagine the future of food through education, entrepreneurship, and cultural celebration.
Co-founded by Chef Chad Cherry and Karen Pandy-Cherry, Chef Kulture was born from a shared vision: to create sustainable, community-focused food businesses led by independent culinary professionals. After launching in Broward County and expanding to chapters across the East Coast, Chef Kulture hosted its first national State of Black Food Conference in 2019, drawing nearly 250 culinary professionals from across the country.
Now in its second edition, the 2025 conference centers the voices, expertise, and lived experiences of Black and BIPOC chefs, restaurateurs, and entrepreneurs who are using food as a tool for justice, healing, and wealth-building.
Throughout the event, attendees will engage in panel discussions, workshops, tours of Greenwood & Tulsa, curated exhibitions, live demos, and wellness-centered activations. One of the conference’s standout experiences will be the SOBF Master Class, led by Certified Master Chef Daryl Shular, offering attendees rare access to high-level culinary instruction.
Conference Highlights:
- Chef Showcase (August 28): A meet-and-greet with national culinary influencers, Food Network stars, and authors
- Professional Development Day (August 29): A full day of workshops on business, branding, tech integration, and wellness
- Kulture Awards Gala (August 30): A red-carpet, black-tie celebration of culinary innovators and community leaders
- Hands-On Programming: Including demos, exhibits, and community-focused wellness sessions
- SOBF VXP (Virtual Xperience): Hosted on the PBCi K.O.D.e.® platform, this digital portal gives ticket holders access to live-streamed content, on-demand micro-courses, and downloadable resources.
For more information, and to secure to spot for this groundbreaking conference, visit https://stateofblackfood.com.
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