NEW ORLEANS (press release) – The James Beard Foundation has announced featured chefs, cities, and programming for its annual Taste America event. The 2020 Taste America event presented by Capital One will take place on Sunday, October 18 in 20 cities nationwide at 5 P.M. PT / 8 P.M. ET. In New Orleans, Kelly Fields of Willa Jean has created a three course meal including an appetizer of Burrata-Louisiana Seafood Tart with Warm Kerrygold-Buttered Crab, Shrimp, and Cajun Caviar; an entrée of Slow Roasted Pork with Smoked Ham Hock Collard Greens, Kerrygold Cheddar Grits, and Sauce Jezebel and a dessert of Creole Cream Cheese with Caramel, Apples and Sunflower. Each meal kit will be paired with wine courtesy of Dough Wines. The three-course meal kit will be available to pick up on the afternoon of the event, Sunday, October 18 at Willa Jean (611 O’Keefe Ave.).
This year, in lieu of the usual in-person events, participating chefs, special guests, and diners from twenty cities around the country will come together for a virtual communal dinner to eat, celebrate local independent restaurants, and support efforts to rebuild a more sustainable and equitable industry. The special dinner and show enjoyed from the comfort of home will bring together thousands of chefs and food lovers on one special night.
Each event ticket includes a local chef-created three-course meal plus wine to be enjoyed at home and access to a broadcast featuring a lineup of James Beard Foundation chefs and special guests from across the country. The broadcast will be emceed by Antonia Lofaso and will feature two roundtables featuring participating chefs listed below as well as special guests including: Carla Hall, Gail Simmons, and DJ Hesta Prynn who will curate music throughout the event. A round of trivia to test your food knowledge in your home city will also entertain and challenge participants.
Capital One cardholders have the exclusive opportunity to purchase a Capital One Access Pass that allows them to enjoy the three-course meal, wine, and national broadcast while also unlocking access to a VIP reception with their city’s featured chef and Foundation host prior to showtime and a special gift.
The New Orleans menu by Kelly Fields of Willa Jean can be viewed here. Tickets and the Capital One Access Pass are $150 and can be purchased at https://www.jamesbeard.org/events.
Through its Open for Good campaign, the Foundation is working to help the independent restaurant industry survive the COVID-19 crisis and come back stronger, more equitable, and more resilient. As part of this campaign, the Foundation recently announced the James Beard Foundation Food and Beverage Investment Fund for Black and Indigenous Americans. The new grant initiative will provide financial resources for food or beverage businesses that are majority-owned by Black or Indigenous individuals, and will be highlighted in the broadcast. For information on the Foundation’s Open for Good campaign, industry support resources, and the Investment Fund, please visit jamesbeard.org/aboutopenforgood.
The James Beard Foundation’s Taste America is presented by Capital One, the official credit card and banking partner of the James Beard Foundation. Through this first-of-its-kind partnership, Capital One cardholders enjoy exclusive access to James Beard Foundation programming. Taste America is also presented in association with American Airlines, the official airline of the James Beard Foundation and the following partners: Premier Sponsors: Deloitte, Rabbit Hole Distillery; Supporting Sponsors: Kerrygold USA, Whole Foods Market; Patron Sponsors: Cayson, Choose Chicago, dough Wines, McCormick, Upserve and Founding Partner Bowen & Company. Additional support for Taste America is provided by VerTerra Dinnerware and Placon®. Intersport is the Official Broadcast Partner of the James Beard Foundation’s Taste America.
