The Oakland Food Futures Summit, held during Oakland Restaurant Week, is dedicated to exploring the power of food to shape a more resilient, sustainable and equitable community. Presented in partnership with Community Kitchens and solfood, the Summit brings together experts, professionals and innovators to collaborate on building a stronger local food ecosystem that nourishes all Oakland residents.
Please join us to share, learn, collaborate and get involved. Tickets are free with reservation.
Preserving Restaurants as Public Spaces
Monday, March 24th, 2025
The traditional restaurant is under threat in the post-pandemic world. Rising costs, work-from-home, and online delivery services are driving dining out of the public sphere, transforming the act of eating into a purely private experience. This gathering for restaurant owners, aspiring restaurateurs, and industry professionals will examine how we can preserve restaurants as key “third places” for public gathering. The event will feature a panel of successful restaurateurs sharing their journeys and insights, as well as presentations and networking opportunities with other industry leaders and vendors.
Panelists
Building Future Food Hubs
Tuesday, March 25th, 2025
California lost a great food leader when Alameda County Supervisor Wilma Chan was struck and killed by a vehicle in 2021. This thought-provoking panel discussion examines her years-long work to build a network of food hubs throughout Alameda County. Her food hub plan was designed to foster community security and resilience, create economic opportunity, and reduce inequality. This panel brings together community leaders, experts and innovators to examine the Alameda County Food Hub Plan, assess its progress, and envision its potential impact on local economies and food access.
Panelists
Future chefs of Oakland
Thursday, March 27th
- Sunday, March 30th
Throughout Oakland, hundreds of aspiring chefs and restaurateurs are trying to marshal the resources necessary to open their first restaurant in this expensive and highly competitive market. This pop-up event will highlight three aspiring chefs each offering a selection of dishes out of Community Kitchens’ Central Kitchen on W. Grand and Telegraph. Our pop up chefs come to Oakland from different places in the country and around the world, including Alabama, Chicago and Burma. Dining available streetside, on our patio or inside our neighbors at Legionnaire Bar. Sweets available from Oakland’s own Love Bite Bakers.
Featured pop-ups
Building Healthy Black Communities with Food
Saturday, March 29th, 2025
Millions of dollars have been committed to re-imagine and re-vitalize a traditionally black community in deep east Oakland. Organizers and promoters envision a neighborhood anchored by black-owned restaurants and market spaces that create jobs, foster a sense of community and create a model of healthy black community building that other cities can emulate. This conference, targeted at current and aspiring black entrepreneurs, will present attendees with an overview of the opportunities presented, and engage the audience in a conversation about what this neighborhood could look like and how we can work together to realize that vision.
Moderators
