How ’3 Black Chefs’ feed thousands for free in Meadowview amid coronavirus shutdown

When dine-in restaurants went down, 3 Black Chefs stepped up.

Willis Webster, Mike Harris and Berry Accius cooked and distributed more than 1,000 free to-go plates in Sacramento’s Meadowview neighborhood over two days last week. The “3 Black Chefs,” as they call themselves, plan to feed all takers every Thursday and Friday through April and possibly into May if COVID-19 social distancing regulations are not lifted.

Accius, Harris and Webster prepare the meals at Fresher Sacramento, a nonprofit dedicated to providing healthy and affordable meals where Harris works, in the Pannell Meadowview Community Center. Plates are wrapped up at the facility and given to-go at the center at 2450 Meadowview Rd.

“What we’ve been getting is people telling us how good (the food) is,” Accius said. “They don’t expect to get that much good food. A lot of times, in these (situations) people make food or go get food … and just because it’s food doesn’t mean it’s necessarily a great experience.”

3 Black Chefs expected to prepare around 200 plates for last Thursday’s launch but got more than 100 additional requests. Friday brought more than 600 requests from south Sacramento to Del Paso Heights - about the same number as the previous day.

Accius is a local activist and business owner who hosts the monthly African Market Place in Florin Square, while Webster cooks up gumbo and crawfish boils with Cajun-inspired NOLA Catering. The three men met at a Black History Month event in February and had been planning to host a community-focused cookout before the coronavirus pandemic caused a moratorium on sit-down dining throughout California, Accius said.

3 Black Chefs served grilled chicken with green beans, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, baked pasta, salad and bread last week. Thursday’s meal more closely resembled a Fourth of July cookout: hot dogs, hamburgers, coleslaw, baked beans, potato salad and macaroni salad.

“This is all Grade A food. You really get a culinary experience,” Accius said. “This is like catering on steroids.”

The program currently runs on Fresher Sacramento’s existing inventory, donations and the 3 Black Chefs’ out-of-pocket generosity. There’s no limit to the number of plates one person can request; some have picked up five to 10 for extended family members, Accius said.

To reserve meals, email 3BlackChefs@gmail.com or text Accius at (916) 949-9026. Donations can be made through 3 Black Chefs’ Fundly crowdsourcing page, through PayPal to 1voiceoftheyouth@gmail.com or Cashapp to $berryaccius.