**WHAT IS EATOKRA?**
EatOkra is the go-to app for discovering Black-owned restaurants. Where food, culture, and community link, EatOkra connects thousands of foodies to culinary creators and restaurants, reimagining the dining experience in local neighborhoods nationwide. EatOkra amplifies awareness and creates equal opportunities for Black business owners, future trailblazers, and voices in the f
ood and beverage industry.
**OUR STORY**
In 2016, Anthony and Janique Edwards created EatOkra as two Brooklyn transplants who didn’t have the means to cook or store food. Without a stove or refrigerator in their new apartment, the husband-wife duo sought out spaces that were inviting, familiar, and with food they either loved or would grow to love. Anthony and Janique also wanted to immerse themselves in their new community. In exploring ways to support local small businesses and champion the vibrant, cultural voices of their neighborhood, EatOkra was born.
**WHY OKRA?**
Okra was a plant first brought over from West Africa during the slave trade, and slaves often planted and cooked it to make up for the small food rations they received. Today, it’s a staple in many popular Southern dishes, traditionally used as a binding agent in comfort foods like stew and gumbo! There are five seeds in an okra pod, and each of EatOkra's brand values represents one of those seeds:
1. Fellowship
3. Support
4. Celebration
5. Convenience
Through these five pillars, EatOkra vows to honor culinary heritage and history for the African diaspora; cultivate a community rooted in a shared love for Black food and businesses; uplift Black businesses owners and future trailblazers; celebrate food as the centerpiece of Black joy; and provide comfort to Black communities nationwide.
