Marketing

Slutty Vegan stars in Pepsi-created docuseries celebrating Black-owned restaurants

Marcus Samuelsson interviews Slutty Vegan founder and CEO Pinky Cole. Provided

August 18, 2021

Slutty Vegan, an Atlanta-based vegan fast casual founded by Pinky Cole, will appear in a mini-episodic docuseries, "You Have to Taste This," created by Pepsi and Marcus Samuelsson to highlight the diverse diaspora of Black cuisine in America.

"It is long past time to recognize Black excellence in the culinary world. I'm thrilled to partner with Pepsi Dig In to highlight the cultural history and diverse deliciousness of so many incredible Black-owned restaurants," Chef and Author Marcus Samuelsson said in a press release.

In each 1-to-2-minute episode, Samuelsson will visit a restaurant, including his own — Red Rooster Overtown — in Miami, to sit down with the respective chefs and owners to discuss everything from their own background and business upstart stories to the cultural elements that define their cooking.

Besides Slutty Vegan, the following restaurant brands will appear.

● Ben's Chili Bowl, a historic spot in Washington D.C., founded by Virginia Ali, famous for half-smoked sausage, banana pudding, chili dogs and more.
● Dukunoo, a Jamaican restaurant, owned by Shrusan Gray, Leonie McKoy, and Rodrick Leighton, in Miami's Wynwood area known for its jerk chicken, music and cocktails.

"With this series for Pepsi Dig In, we wanted to bring Black-owned restaurants to the forefront by honing in on the unique stories behind the food they serve. Marcus' expertise and experience made him the perfect host to bring these stories to light, and we've only just scratched the surface. We hope that viewers are inspired to visit these restaurants and discover their next favorite dish," Chauncey Hamlett, vice president and CMO of PepsiCo Beverages North America (South Division), said in the release.

The series is part of the Pepsi Dig In initiative, which aims to generate at least $100 million in sales for Black-owned restaurants over the next five years. The Dig In platform also serves as an invitation for Black restaurateurs to tap into a variety of resources available from PepsiCo including business services, training and mentorship, according to the release.