BCA celebrates industry professionals of color at annual Food & Wine Experience
Milford Prewitt
NEW YORK — The BCA, formerly known as the Black Culinarian Alliance, hosted its 4th Annual Global Food & Wine Experience, bringing together some 400 culinarians for festive, multicourse food and wine pairings that celebrated minority chefs, culinary students and winemakers.
Perhaps better known for its “Taste of Heritage” tribute gala in February, the BCA held the Global event at Tavern on the Green in Central Park.
BCA president Alex Askew told attendees that the organization, which functions as a networking and mentoring group to recognize the achievements of hospitality professionals of color, will align on various projects with the Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance and the Urban League.
“It’s estimated that within the next five years, the U.S. will have more than 600 culinary and hospitality institutions and most of them will have high percentages of young people of color,” Askew said. “These young people will be the next generation of hospitality professionals and will need role models, mentors and others to dedicated to shaping their future.”
During the dinner, Mac McDonald, president and CEO of Vision Cellars, received the BCA’s Vision in Wine Award.
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