DoorDash Canada, in partnership with Black Opportunity Fund, is awarding more than $300,000 to 30 Black-owned and Black-led restaurants across the country – bringing total grant investment through #BlackFoodEnergy to $950,000.

The latest cohort reflects DoorDash’s commitment to improving access to funding and resources for Black entrepreneurs in the restaurant industry. Each recipient will receive over $10,000 in funding, along with a one-year Restaurants Canada membership – providing access to industry-leading research and insights, advocacy on key policy issues, and a national network of operators and partners to help support long-term business growth.

“What makes so many Canadian communities special are their vibrant and diverse restaurants, yet access to capital remains one of the biggest barriers to success for many entrepreneurs,” said Delly Dyer, Integrated Marketing Lead at DoorDash Canada. “Through our #BlackFoodEnergy grants, we’re backing restaurant owners with the funding and support they need to grow, hire, and continue serving their communities.”

From neighbourhood staples in Toronto and Montréal to growing businesses in Charlottetown and Kamloops, this cohort represents a wide range of cuisines and cultures, including Ethiopian, Eritrean, Nigerian, Senegalese, and Caribbean. Many plan to use the funding to expand operations, invest in equipment, and create jobs in their communities.

“We’re proud to continue our partnership with DoorDash to support Black-owned restaurants across Canada and celebrate the range of culture represented within the culinary industry,” said Craig Wellington, CEO of Black Opportunity Fund. “It’s exciting to see how these businesses will put their grants to work, building stronger businesses that are pillars in their communities.”

Recipients of #BlackFoodEnergy grants from this year are:

ONTARIO

• Plato Royal — Toronto
• Naija Jollof — Toronto, North York, Waterloo, Brampton, Mississauga
• Coral Resto-Bar — Scarborough
• Cee’s Kitchen — Etobicoke
• African Chop Bar — North York
• RP Restaurant and Bar — Woodbridge
• Honey Soul Food — Toronto, Mississauga
• King Rustic Kitchen and Bar — Toronto
• Your Cyber Chef — Toronto
• Yaya’s Kitchen — London
• IJAT Restaurant — Ottawa
• Ibex Habesha Restaurant — Ottawa
• Pili Pili Charcoal Grill — Ottawa
• Safari Grill — Ottawa
• TriniCanJam — Hamilton

QUEBEC

• Délices de Maman Dogui — Québec City
• La Bokiterie — Québec City
• Mama’s Chop — Gatineau, Ottawa
• Lamp Fall Restaurant — Montréal

ALBERTA

• Habesha Cravings — Edmonton
• Franyz Kitchen Nigerian Cuisine — Calgary

BRITISH COLUMBIA

• Afrofusion — Kamloops
• Vansuya Restaurant and Lounge — Surrey
• Tommie’s Jerk — Surrey

SASKATCHEWAN

• 3J’s Kitchen — Saskatoon
• DeeBestie’s Nigerian Restaurant and Bar — Moose Jaw

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

• Toks Aroma — Charlottetown

NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR

• G&M Cuisines — St. John’s

NEW BRUNSWICK

• Chopshaven — Saint John

"We are incredibly honoured to receive a #BlackFoodEnergy grant from DoorDash,” says Gillian Salazar, Owner of TriniCanJam Cuisine in Hamilton, ON. “This support will help us continue sharing our unique fusion of Trinidadian, Jamaican, and a little Canadian cuisine with more people in our community. The flavours of the Caribbean are bold, vibrant, and full of life. We’re passionate about bringing those flavours to the table and encouraging people to explore something new."

“Habesha Cravings is a place where friends can come together over the incredible flavours of authentic food from Ethiopia and Eritrea,” says Nunu Deslange, Owner of Habesha’s Cravings in Edmonton, AB. “We are incredibly lucky that we were able to turn our passion into our life’s work. #BlackFoodEnergy is helping us to continue that dream."

Learn more about #BlackFoodEnergy and other Entrepreneurship and Access programs from DoorDash.

Toronto, March 24, 2026 – Today’s Manitoba budget fails to exempt all food, including restaurant meals, from provincial sales tax (PST) to make life more affordable for Manitobans.

Canadians are struggling with rising living costs. Unlike groceries, restaurant meals are subject to PST in Manitoba, making them more expensive for consumers and adding pressure on foodservice businesses. While the government has announced an exemption from PST for prepared meals sold in grocery stores, the measure ignores that Manitobans regularly look to restaurants for quick and convenient meals for families on the go.

“Manitobans need and deserve support on affordability, but it must be delivered in a way that is fair and protects jobs. Manitobans should not be taxed on rotisserie chicken sold in a restaurant if the same product is going to be exempt from PST in a grocery store,” said Kelly Higginson, President and CEO of Restaurants Canada. “Exempting prepared meals sold at grocery stores from PST, but not those sold at restaurants, would hurt consumers while putting restaurant businesses and their workers at risk.”

Removing the PST from restaurant meals would ease costs for families and support an industry that employs over 42,800 Manitobans, including 19,000 youth. These are critical jobs for communities, especially as they struggle with higher unemployment, affordability and continued economic uncertainty. 

Manitoba’s restaurants drive $3.5B in sales in each year. Every $1M in revenue at a restaurant produces nearly 12 jobs, compared to fewer than four at a grocery store. Across Canada, 44% of restaurants are currently operating at a loss or breaking even, as operating costs continue to rise while consumers are pulling back on restaurant spending.

“We recognize the need for broad affordability measures to help Manitobans struggling with the cost of living, but restaurants should not be left out,” added Higginson. “Many Manitobans depend on restaurants for their daily meals, as well as for their livelihoods. We call on the Manitoba government to include restaurant meals in the planned PST exemption.”

Vancouver, B.C. – October 14, 2025 – Fairmont Pacific Rim announces the launch of an exclusive new culinary collaboration series at The Lobby Lounge & RawBar, spotlighting globally acclaimed chefs alongside the hotel’s Chef de Asian Cuisine, Youssef Jbari. Designed as a sequence of intimate, one-night-only dining experiences, the series will welcome just 40 guests per evening for immersive omakase-style menus rooted in precision, seasonality, and creative exchange.

The inaugural dinner on Monday, March 30 will feature Masayoshi Baba, marking a highly anticipated return to The Lobby Lounge & RawBar - his former culinary residency - following the continued success of his Michelin-starred restaurant, Masayoshi. This homecoming sets the tone for the series, blending legacy with evolution in a refined and deeply personal dining experience.

Together, Baba and Jbari will present a meticulously curated six-course omakase menu, showcasing hyper-seasonal ingredients through a lens of Japanese technique and Nikkei influence. The result is a dialogue between tradition and innovation - where precision, restraint, and bold flavour converge. Tickets are available for $189.00 per person.

“The opportunity to welcome Chef Baba back to this space feels incredibly meaningful,” says Jbari. “There is a shared respect for craftsmanship and storytelling through food, and this series allows us to explore that in a truly intimate way.”

Building on this momentum, the second dinner in the series will take place on Wednesday, May 6 in collaboration with Chef & Owner Riccardo Valvedere of UCHU Cevicheria & Raw Bar. Known for its vibrant expression of Peruvian cuisine, UCHU brings a dynamic counterpoint to Jbari’s Nikkei cuisine creating a natural synergy between Japanese and Peruvian culinary traditions. Guests can expect a bold, flavour-forward menu that celebrates this cross-cultural exchange.

The series will conclude on Monday, June 1 with Hyunki Shin of Sushi Bar Shu, further cementing the series as a platform for some of Vancouver’s most respected culinary voices.

Each evening will be hosted in The Lobby Lounge & RawBar, offering an intimate, design-forward setting that mirrors the artistry on the plate. Thoughtful beverage pairings will complement each menu, enhancing the overall sensory experience.

This collaboration series underscores Fairmont Pacific Rim’s continued evolution as a culinary destination - where world-class talent, cultural exchange, and elevated hospitality intersect. Limited seating is available for each dinner.

EDMONTON, AB — April 2026 — Sorrentino’s Restaurant Group (SRG) announces the return of Sorrentino’s 34th Annual Garlic Fest, presented by Qualico, running throughout April 2026 at all SRG locations in Edmonton and St. Albert. Since its inception, thefestival has raised more than $6.5 million for local charities. This year’s beneficiary is Sorrentino’s Compassion House, which forover two decades has provided a “home away from home” for women travelling to Edmonton from across Canada for cancer treatment.

Charitable events span the full month: the BIG Balloon Pop Night (Friday, April 17, presented by Italian Centre Shop) brings live entertainment and $50 balloons packed with gift cards to all Sorrentino’s locations. The Mini-STOMP Fundraiser Wine Dinner (Sunday, April 12, presented by Dennis & Constance Nolin) offers an intimate gala evening at Sorrentino’s Downtown at $400 per ticket. Garlic Fest Wine Dinners run at rotating locations throughout April, and garlic-themed cooking classes at YEG Cooking Classes take place every Saturday. A portion of every ticket sold goes directly to Sorrentino’s Compassion House.

Corporate Chef Alberto Alboreggia’s dedicated Garlic Fest menu infuses garlic into every course — from Black Garlic Ricotta Gnocchi and 40 Clove Garlic Chicken to garlic cocktails and a Lemon Ricotta Cake with Black Garlic. Guests can “Take the Garlic Dare” and dial up the heat from Apprentice to Warrior level.

“Reaching $6.5 million in charitable contributions over 34 years is something our entire team and our guests should be incredibly proud of,” said Carmelo Rago Jr., President of SRG. “This year we’re bringing the fundraising home to Sorrentino’s Compassion House — and going bigger and stinkier than ever.”

“Every meal, every ticket, every toast during Garlic Fest makes a real difference for women when they need it most,” added Danica Hoffart, Executive Director, Sorrentino’s Compassion House.

Tickets, menus, and full event details: garlicfest.ca