Lexington’s SoulFeast, Black Restaurant Week are back, and at new locations
A popular Lexington foodie event is back for its sixth year with all events at new locations.
SoulFeast, a 10-day celebration of Black culinary culture and community will be June 18-28. It will include a series of events leading into Lexington Black Restaurant Week, which runs June 22-28.
SoulFeast Week, founded by twin siblings Martina and Marcellus Barksdale, celebrates and highlights Black-owned restaurants, chefs and farmers in Central Kentucky. The mission to bridge the gap between consumers and local creators by driving economic growth and community connection.
Organizers say the event has brought more than $375,000 into Black-owned businesses.
This year, Lexington Black Restaurant Week is featuring nine local restaurants, all serving dishes with at least one ingredient sourced from a Black farmer. Returning this year is the digital passport where diners can earn rewards and win prizes based on how many restaurants they visit.
Lexington Black Restaurant Week Menus
Wing Kyng, located in Greyline Station at 101 W Loudon Ave., will be offering a six piece traditional wings tossed in house-blended “wet” lemon pepper sauce served with a side of hand-diced potatoes dredged in garlic Parmesan sauce. Cleav’s Family Market in LaRue County is providing the white potatoes.
Dova’s, also in Greyline Station at 101 W Loudon Ave., will be serving a ground lamb burger topped with arugula, Asiago cheese and glazed in Dova’s sauce, served with truffle fries. The ground lamb is sourced from a Kentucky Proud farm, Four Hills Farm.
Chef Li’s Tacos, in Greyline Station at 101 W Loudon Ave., is offering two slow braised oxtail tacos topped with Oaxaca cheese and onions, served with a side of rice & peas, pico de gallo, sour cream and a rendered oxtail birria. Cleav’s Family Market in LaRue County is providing the onions and jalapeños.
Empanada Company KY, at 101 W Loudon Ave. in Greyline Station, is serving a smoked brisket and mac and cheese empanada with a side of rice.
Ethiopian Family Kitchen, in Greyline Station at 101 W Loudon Ave., will be serving Doro Wat. A dish of bone in chicken thighs slowly cooked with berbere, Ethiopian chili seasoning, onions and garlic. Black Soil KY will be providing the collard greens and Cleav’s Family Market will be providing the tomatoes.
Drippin Claw, at 428 Southland Dr., is serving a mini shrimp boil with jumbo shrimp served with Cajun corn on the cob, potatoes, beef smoked sausage served with house Cajun butter sauce.
AJ’s Wings & Things, at 1873 Alexandria Dr. #110, is offering a comfort meal of golden-fried catfish fillets served over a bed of savory Southern dirty rice, seasoned and packed with bold Cajun flavor.
Son of a Burger, at 833 Georgetown St., will be serving a Swiss onion burger of grilled onions, Swiss cheese, signature sob sauce and grilled mushrooms.
Irie Flavors, at 417 Georgetown St., is serving a jerk chicken dish. With a blend herbs and spices to make the jerk seasoning for the smoked chicken. The tomatoes, white potatoes, cabbage, cucumber and cherry tomatoes will be sourced from Cleav’s Family Market.
Lexington SoulFeast Events
Ticketed events can be purchased online ahead of time at soulfeastweek.com/events using a “Proud to Pay” method that lets patrons pay what they want and pay it forward for others.
Kick-off Soirée: SoulFeast Week starts June 18, at The Melory with a Kick-off Soirée. From 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., attendees can enjoy a selection of lite bites, complimentary cocktails by Fresh Bourbon, and an evening celebrating the start of a week of good eats and better community.
Cocktails & Cigars: SoulFeast Week’s signature, 21 and older, block party is returning and will be held at the new BC Garage from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Guests can enjoy a night of premium cigars, cocktails, local food trucks and live DJ sets.
SoulTeenth Fest: A highlighted event for this weekend’s programming is SoulTeenth Fest, which will debut at a new location, Gatton Park on the Town Branch June 20. The event will offer free activities, live music, food and more.
The event will feature the official dedication of the Robert Charles O’Hara Benjamin Historical Marker at 4 p.m. The marker honors the Black journalist, attorney and civil rights activist, who was assassinated in Lexington in 1900 while advocating for the voting rights of Black citizens.
Soulful Sunday Gospel Brunch: Offering two times June 21, at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., guests can attend a brunch featuring live gospel music by Courtney Campbell and a curated farm-fresh menu by Chef Isaiah Screetch at the V at The Vine.
The Finale: Held at Greyline Station June 21, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., the “ultimate” wrap party for the weekend of events. Offering signature cocktails and tasting experiences, alongside a line-up of DJs for guests to enjoy and celebrate the close of the week.
