A James Beard Dinner Featuring Some of Detroit’s Best Chefs Is Coming to Gratiot Avenue #DetroitFood

Saffron De Twah will host a James Beard Foundation pop-up in October. | GB in Detroit

The menu will feature collaborations between Saffron De Twah’s Omar Anani and Top Chef alum Kiki Louya

Those who worship at the feet of our lord and savior James Beard (we all call him Jim) may find themselves enticed by an upcoming pop-up hitting Detroit in October. The James Beard Foundation, known for its vaunted medals handed out to worthy chefs annually in Chicago, is organizing a stop at Gratiot’s own Eater Award-winning Saffron De Twah, per a release. The dinner on Wednesday, October 9, will feature a collaboration between local faves chef Omar Anani (owner of Saffron) and Kiki Louya, a Top Chef Season 18 alum and executive director of Detroit Food Academy.

The dinner is part of JBF’s Taste America series, which aims to spotlight chefs and independent restaurants doing good in their communities. Chefs and speakers featured on the circuit are members of the Beard’s Taste Twenty, a cohort of “ones to watch” in the industry that launched earlier this summer. Chefs in the group are recognized for their “culinary excellence, innovation, and a commitment to positive societal impact.”

Kiki Louya

Anani is notably dedicated to programs that serve the Detroit community including Saffron Community Kitchen, a program that launched in 2020 to help fight food insecurity by preparing hundreds of free meals a day. Anani is also developing a new restaurant that aims to provide affordable housing to the culinary community. Louya has also long been dedicated to uplifting her community through food. Prior to joining Detroit Food Academy, a non-profit that provides hands-on culinary experience to kids (it’s adorable), she operated Folk and the Farmer’s Hand and became the first-ever executive director of the Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation. Louya is a graduate of JBF’s Chef Bootcamp, while Anani is a two-time James Beard Award finalist in the Best Chef: Great Lakes category.

GB in Detroit

Omar Anani.

The dinner will feature two seatings at 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. respectively. Tickets are $150 and proceeds go to support the Foundation’s programming, which includes efforts in hospitality equity, women’s leadership, and sustainability. It’s also sponsored by Capital One, so cardholders get special perks, if that’s your jam.

Disclosure: Some Vox Media staff members are part of the voting body for the James Beard Awards.

from Eater Detroit - All