At EatOkra, we celebrate Black culinary excellence—from visionary chefs and storytellers to innovators and cultural guardians. We’re thrilled to reveal the cohort for our inaugural Culinary Creatives Awards—individuals who are redefining food culture, fostering community, and leaving indelible marks on our culinary landscape.
Congratulations to the inspiring 2025 honorees!
Nominations were open to the public. Anyone could nominate a culinary creative, including themselves. We encouraged submissions that reflect diversity in background, geography, discipline, and impact across the food space—including but not limited to chefs, content creators, food entrepreneurs, restaurateurs, educators, and innovators.
The EatOkra team reviewed all submissions to determine a shortlist of nominees based on key criteria such as:
A panel of esteemed judges evaluated shortlisted candidates, bringing lived experience, industry knowledge, and a commitment to equity during the selection process. Final honorees were chosen based on a combination of merit, influence, and community relevance.