The sweet smell of hot, barbecue sauce and baked beans filled a cafeteria at the Long Beach Rescue Mission in the city’s Washington neighborhood on Tuesday as part of a food distribution event for more than 100 staff members, homeless individuals and sober-living residents.

Three leading Long Beach Black chefs treated guests to a multi-course gourmet meal ahead of the inaugural Long Beach Black Restaurant Week this month, Jan. 23-30.

Chef Ronnie Woods of Northtown Bistro Pop-up said he dished up some of his pulled pork because he wants to help those who are experiencing homelessness, which many say is a growing population. Last year’s citywide homeless count was canceled due to the pandemic, but the most recent data released showed that homelessness grew by 7% from 2019 to 2020 in Long Beach.

This year’s homeless count was delayed to Feb. 24 due to a rise in COVID-19 cases.

Event organizer Terri Henry estimated about 150 people experiencing homelessness, staff and sober-living residents stopped by for a gourmet meal during a chef event at the Long Beach Rescue Mission on Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022. Photo by Crystal Niebla.

“It’s a lot of unhoused people, and I feel like they’re not getting the attention that they need to be getting,” Woods said. Providing more resources beyond food, such as shelter and beds, could help drive down homelessness, he said.

Victor Jones and Brian Martin came for a hot meal, both saying Tuesday afternoon’s gourmet food was “delicious.” Besides that, providing resources like this can help drive down crime, according to Martin.

“People do crime to get money to eat to feed themselves if they’re desperate enough,” Martin said, who eats twice a week at the Mission.

Quianna Bradley from A Pinch of Salt Catering hand over a plate of gourmet food during a chef event at the Long Beach Rescue Mission on Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022. Photo by Crystal Niebla.

Jones eats there daily, and, for him, it’s a great way to get outside. “It makes me feel energized,” he said.

Terri Henry, executive director of Long Beach Food & Beverage, which organized the event, said it was a way bring restaurant weeks to those who may not be able to dine out.

Long Beach Black Restaurant Week features more than a dozen Black-owned restaurants throughout the city, offering various deals and promotions. A pop-up for the event is planned for 4:30 p.m. Jan. 25 at Trademark Brewing, 233 E. Anaheim St.

Nick Roberts, project coordinator for the Long Beach Rescue Mission, said that his organization serves lunch every day at noon and dinners at 6 p.m., but the meals usually consist of donated dry and canned food.

What made Tuesday’s food special, Roberts said, was that it was something cooked, and “made with intent and purpose.”

“It’s just an opportunity to bring our restaurant weeks to those that may not be able to dine out that week,” Henry added.

IN PICTURES: Local chefs serve up gourmet meals at Long Beach homeless shelter