BLACK CUISINE IN THE BAYVIEW

This is the 25th year the Black Cuisine event has been held where fine cooking, good music, great fun and the families joining in the fun make this event well known to those that have been frequenting it year after year. I have attended it some and every year I find something very enchanting but I always come from this event - blessed. This year was held on Saturday, March 4, 2006. I was lucky to meet Sam, Henry, and Nolan dressed fine and talking about things common to us all. The Buffalo Soldiers are dear to me and Sam was sporting a Buffalo Soldiers leather jacket and he is proud to be the President of the Black Cowboy's Association. Big Mama's Kente Café offered some choice meats, greens, and other fine cuisine. You had a choice to choose two meats and two side orders. I chose and what I tasted was excellent. My good friend John Nauer accompanied me and he too loved the delicious food. Now that is what life is all about ­ good company, tasty food, and fine music. There were other choice places to eat too Mississippi Catfish and Fried Chicken Meat had people lined up to taste the menu offered. Then of course there was Big Mama's and I chose to line up there. Too Sweet Not to Eat had delicious deserts and there was Juke Joint Bar for those over 21 years. I did not go there because I do not drink alcohol. Young Community Developers were helping with Kiddie Land and everyone was having a great time. The youth and others stopped by and played and when they felt hungry got a soft drink and a hot dog on the house. Tala my good Samoan friend was spinning cotton candy and the kids were happy and enjoying themselves. There was plenty of ice cream and other fine eats. The Beacon Afro Haitian Dance and Drum ensemble, Female Vocalist Mwanza and Kami Herron, the Get Along Club Praise Dancers, Line Dancing with John Ford and the Silver Foxes and more were all entertaining the folks at this unique event in the Bayview. Will Black Cuisine and other such events exist once San Francisco Redevelopment (SFRA) comes in and takes over large areas within the Project Area? Blacks folks that have sold out the community and are working with SFRA must answer that question. I was asking people around if they knew about the recent activities of SFRA - and what I heard was not good about the crooked SFRA. Year after year the Black Cuisine is held to raise funds for the Bayview Hunters Point Multipurpose Senior Services at 1706 Yosemite Street very near the famous Monte Carlo Bar and Restaurant. Some of my friends gather at the Senior Center to play dominoes and from that center I know food is distributed to the needy. The Center offers succor to those that need it and fulfills the aspirations of many a Senior. I witnessed many Seniors and youth mostly Black enjoy themselves and feel relaxed. The police were there smiling for once and talking to the folks gathered. I met many and spoke to many and it was all good. Yosemite Street was cordoned off for this great event and there were lots of people enjoying themselves and enjoying the best that was offered.

Line up at Big Mama's Kente Café.

YCD at Kiddie Land.

Tala Spinning Cotton Candy.

The Black Cuisine Event - 2006.


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