:16 – The Long Beach Black Restaurant week is just a few days away. The event starts Jan. 23 and runs through Jan. 30. It is organized by the nonprofit Long Beach Food and Beverage and is designed to promote and celebrate African, African American and Caribbean food, as well as highlight Black-owned culinary businesses, chefs, and bartenders in and around Long Beach.

Mr. Fries is one of the restaurants featured in the week. The founder, Craig Batiste, shares his story of how the firing of his wife and the mundane of a 9-5 sparked the idea.

Devin Green, one of the owners of the Mr. Fries location just off Artesia Boulevard in North Long Beach, shares why he and his family felt the franchise would help their family build generational wealth.

If you are interested in opening a franchise or, finding a location near you, visit Mr. Fries online here.

11:24 – Terry Henry runs Long Beach Food and Beverage, which is a non-profit organization that helps restaurants in Long Beach get more attention. But with every event that she organizes, she also gives back to the community.

On Tuesday, Henry brought three chefs to the Long Beach Food Mission. Together they provided homeless men, women, and children with a multi-course gourmet lunch. Find out more about each chef below.