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Now in its seventh year, the Creole Food Festival will be held from Sept. 26 to 28 at Brooklyn\u2019s Emily Roebling Plaza. It will feature international Creole cuisines and live entertainment, led by Haitian American R&B singer-songwriter Stacy Barthe. The event, organized in partnership with Time Out Market, will offer cooking demos, educational panels, a special brunch and carnival-style activities. Admission is free, and the event aims to engage the wider community. Deeper engagement marks this year\u2019s shift, organizers said.<\/p>\n
The Creole Food Festival will make its Brooklyn debut later this month under the bridge. For its seventh edition, the three-day gathering at Emily Roebling Plaza from Sept. 26 to 28 will feature chefs, vendors and performers from communities deeply connected to Afro-Culture and Creole heritage.<\/p>\n
Co-founded in 2018 in New York by Haitian-American entrepreneur Fabrice Armand and his business partner Elkhair Balla, the festival has become a major culinary and cultural event. Past editions have been held in New Orleans, Miami and Atlanta, bringing visibility to chefs of color across Africa, the Caribbean and the Americas.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s program includes a Creole brunch, grand tastings and a new \u201cCreole Carnival\u201d barbecue to open the celebrations. Grammy-nominated vocalist Stacy Barthe, a Brooklyn native, will headline performances and debut her latest album during the weekend of Creole Culture event.<\/p>\n
L-R : Frabrice Armand, business developer, marketing strategist and co-founder of Creole Food Festival. Photo: Courtesy of Fabrice Armand\u2019s communications team | Elkhair Balla, Senior Executive at Investment Promotion Agency, Qatar, and co-founder of Creole Food Festival. Photo via Elkhair Balla\u2019s LinkedIn<\/p>\n
In a recent interview with The Haitian Times, <\/em>Armand said the festival was designed to showcase overlooked culinary talent and build bridges through shared heritage.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe are the only food festival that connects Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, South America, and the U.S. South.\u201d<\/p>\n Fabrice Armand, Co-founder of Creole Food Festival<\/p>\n \u201cDoing this around food and culture was the best way to start,\u201d he said. \u201cWe are the only food festival that connects Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the South of the United States all at once. It\u2019s about uniting the Afro-diaspora, showcasing chefs and musicians, and teaching people that Creole is global.\u201d<\/p>\n Frabrice Armand, business developer, marketing strategist and co-founder of Creole Food Festival. Photo: Courtesy of Fabrice Armand\u2019s communications team<\/p>\n A highlight of some of the menus served during the 2024 Creole Food Festival at IXTA NYC, Manhattan, New York. Photo: Courtesy of Fabrice Armand\u2019s communications team <\/p>\n Attendees can expect tastings of dishes rooted in Haitian, Cuban, Brazilian, Ghanaian, Afro-French and Southern Creole traditions. Stephan Berrouet Durand<\/a> of Taste of Haiti<\/a> and Todd Richards<\/a>, an award-winning chef and James Beard Foundation Awards<\/a> nominee known for his contemporary cooking style rooted in soul and Southern U.S. cuisine, will curate a diverse lineup of talent.\u00a0<\/p>\n Armand and his team select chefs through community recommendations, tastings and open calls. Over the past six years, the festival has showcased award-winning Black and Brown chefs, helping to boost their visibility in an industry where such recognition has often been limited.<\/p>\n \u201cThis move to Brooklyn allows us to grow our footprint, welcome more guests, and introduce exciting new elements that elevate the entire festival experience.\u201d <\/p>\n Fabrice Armand, Co-founder of Creole Food Festival-<\/p>\n The festival is organized in partnership with Time Out Market, aiming to create opportunities for people to connect and learn through food and music. Cooking demos, beverage stalls and tourism booths will also highlight the richness of Creole identity beyond Haiti and Louisiana.<\/p>\n Beyond the annual event, Armand is preparing to launch a global parent company, Creole Food Culture, that will extend the festival\u2019s mission year-round through media, storytelling and cultural programs. \u201cThe festival is the centerpiece, but we realized we needed a broader platform for the macro needs of our diverse communities,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Despite growing popularity and success, the festival has faced sponsorship challenges.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u201cDespite all, we\u2019ve been able to host an event of this magnitude with no more than $10,000 to $15,000 in sponsorships,\u201d Armand said. \u201cIt\u2019s a testament to our resilience, determination and the support of our community.\u201d<\/p>\n For Armand, who emigrated from Haiti as a child, the project is deeply personal.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u201cHaiti is a perfect reflection of Creole identity,\u201d he said. \u201cOur food blends African, French, Spanish, and Middle Eastern influences. In that sense, Creole culture is about diversity, resilience, and global excellence.\u201d<\/p>\n \t\t\t<\/p>\nLike this:<\/h3>\n