CLEVELAND – Hosted in collaboration with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland NAACP, Black CoLabs and Aramark, this eagerly awaited showcase will take place at Rocket Arena on Thursday, July 31, from 6:00 – 11:00 p.m.  A select group of 27 Black chefs and restaurateurs will take center stage at A Taste of Black Cleveland: The Food Showcase 7.0, an annual event celebrating Cleveland’s rich cultural heritage. 

Guests are invited to immerse themselves in an evening of culinary excellence, sampling an array of dishes crafted by some of Cleveland’s most talented chefs, restaurant owners, food trucks and catering teams. Guests will enjoy an electrifying atmosphere with live entertainment throughout the evening, featuring performances by Kenny Bell & The Franchise Band and sets from one of Cleveland’s hottest DJs, DJ Lo-Key. All proceeds from the event will directly support the participants, the Cleveland NAACP and the Cavaliers Community Foundation. 

Tickets are available now at rocketarena.com/tobc7.  

• Early Bird Tickets (June 1 – June 30):Tickets are available for $75 during this period. 
• General Tickets (Starting July 1): Ticket prices increase to $100, so be sure to buy early to save. 

Guests can also opt for an elevated experience: 

VIP Tasting Experience – $200   

• Access to the entire Tasting Experience – food served until 8:30 p.m. 
• Exclusive entry to a VIP area featuring a dedicated bar and special food tastings  
• One Cleveland Cavaliers game ticket per VIP ticket purchased 
• Live music by Kenny Bell & The Franchise Band and DJ Lo-Key

The Tasting Experience includes: 

• Access to food tasting from 27 local Black chefs and dessert vendors
• Food served until 8:30 pm 
• Two drink tickets 
• A vote in the contest for top participants 
• Live music by Kenny Bell & The Franchise Band and DJ Lo-Key 

Attendees will have the opportunity to taste each vendor’s signature creation and vote for their favorites, considering factors such as taste, originality and presentation in each category. The winning chefs and restaurants will be recognized on-court during a Cleveland Cavaliers game this upcoming 2025-26 NBA season. 

This year’s lineup of categories and participants includes 17 new businesses and 10 returning from previous years:  

Full Service Restaurant: 

Savage Burger
Sunset Kitchen & Lounge
The Breakfast Faktory
The Four Bistro and Wine Bar

Zanzibar Soul Fusion

NO FORK RESTAURANT*

Take Out Only Restaurant:

Bite Creole Kitchen
Black Crab Fam
Hooked Restaurant
Island On Wheels
Kim Caribbean Kitchen
Star’s Sea and Soul Food

Food Truck/Catering:

Big Deal Whitfield

Grippy’s Sauce Co.
Gourmet Gent Culinary Services

The Cleveland Fish and Seafood Company
The Loyal Cook Personal Chef and Catering Services
Thyme to Eat
Unpredictable Eats

We Want Smoke BBQ
Carter's BBQ* 

Vegan:

Freshlyfe
JUICY VEGAN
Vegan Vybez

Squash The Beef* 

Desserts:

FRO BROS
O Taste & C
The Sweet Fix Bakery
Tina’s Sweet Tooth
TT Treats

*Only available with the VIP Tasting experience ticket

More information about A Taste of Black Cleveland: The Food Showcase 7.0 can be found at rocketarena.com/tobc7. 

To learn more about the event you can view a recap of the 2024 A Taste of Black Cleveland, click HERE.