JAMES BEARD FOUNDATION® TO HOST 10th ANNUAL TASTE AMERICA CULINARY SERIES, PRESENTED BY CAPITAL ONE
Starting in June 2022 until March 2023, Taste America Announces the TasteTwenty; Acclaimed Chefs Participating in the Culinary Series to Support and Celebrate Local Independent Restaurants
The James Beard Foundation® announces the 10th annual national Taste America culinary series. Presented by Capital One, Taste America celebrates the chefs and local independent restaurants at the heart of our communities, bringing together chefs and food lovers for unique culinary experiences across 20 U.S. cities. Proceeds from Taste America will benefit James Beard Foundation programs, including the Open for Good campaign. Tickets for the summer Taste America events are on sale now.
Launching in June 2022 through March 2023, this year’s lineup features a national kick-off event in Houston, 15 pop-up dinners, and four walk-around tastings with food stations curated by the James Beard Foundation. Guests attending pop-up dinners will enjoy a one-of-a-kind multi-course menu with wine pairings and cocktails, resulting from a TasteTwenty host and visiting chef collaboration; while guests at walk-around tastings will experience a stellar lineup of local chefs preparing signature tastes from their celebrated restaurants, alongside two national TasteTwenty chefs. Menus at all events promise a delicious evening benefiting the Foundation’s industry-focused mission and programs.
Over the course of the year, the series will showcase the breadth of culinary creativity across the country, while highlighting the positive impact chefs have in their communities and the industry at-large. Attending a Taste America event is a special opportunity to become part of the Foundation’s vibrant and growing national culinary community, comprising food lovers and industry professionals alike.
The James Beard Foundation is proud to announce the following inaugural TasteTwenty chefs:
Tasting Chefs:
- Shenarri Freeman, Cadence, New York City
- Natalia Pereira, Woodspoon, Los Angeles
- Chutatip ‘Nok’ Suntaranon, Kalaya, Philadelphia
- Taylor Thornhill, Bateau, Seattle
- Michelle Wallace, Gatlin’s BBQ, Houston
Dinner Chefs:
- Angel Barreto, Anju, Washington, D.C.
- Ana Castro, Lengua Madre, New Orleans
- Varanya Geyoonsawat, Kann, Portland, OR
- Luciana Giangrandi and Alex Meyer, Boia De, Miami
- Elizabeth Johnson, Pharm Table, San Antonio, TX
- Ravi Kapur, Liholiho Yacht Club and Good Good Culture Club, San Francisco
- Jeremy Kean and Philip Kruta, Brassica Kitchen + Café, Jamaica Plain, MA
- Andrew Le, The Pig & The Lady, Honolulu
- Lamar Moore, Chicago
- Henry Moso, Kabooki, Orlando
- Cassie Shortino, Phoenix
- Eric Skokan, Black Cat Farm Bistro and Bramble & Hare, Boulder, CO
- Forough Vakili, Le Bon Nosh, Atlanta
- Natalia Vallejo, Cocina al Fondo, San Juan, PR
- Yia Vang, Union Hmong Kitchen and Vinai, Minneapolis
“We are thrilled to announce our next iteration of the James Beard Foundation Taste America culinary series: the TasteTwenty,” said Siobhan Flaherty Haber, vice president of events at the James Beard Foundation. “Each inaugural TasteTwenty chef comes with exceptional talent and a commitment to community that extends far beyond the plate. By sharing their stories and unique perspectives, we hope Taste America attendees are inspired to support the Foundation in our mission to promote a delicious and thriving food culture for all.”
The James Beard Foundation looks forward to continuing to celebrate local independent restaurants, while championing a standard of good food anchored in talent, equity, and sustainability. A portion of proceeds from each event will go directly to the participating chefs’ restaurants, with the remaining proceeds benefitting the James Beard Foundation’s national programming, including the Open for Good campaign. The Open for Good campaign is an initiative committed to helping independent restaurants survive the COVID-19 crisis, rebuild stronger, and thrive for the long term. For information on the Foundation’s programs and initiatives, please visit jamesbeard.org.
Cities hosting Taste America dinners include:
- Atlanta
- Boston
- Chicago
- Denver
- Honolulu
- Miami
- Minneapolis
- New Orleans
- Orlando, FL
- Phoenix
- Portland, OR
- San Antonio, TX
- San Francisco
- San Juan, PR
- Washington, D.C.
Cities hosting Taste America tasting events include:
- Houston
- Los Angeles
- New York City
- Philadelphia
- Seattle
Tickets for the summer TasteTwenty events in Houston; Orlando, FL; Washington, D.C.; Los Angeles; and Boulder, CO are on sale now. For more information visit, jamesbeard.org/tasteamerica.
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 supported by Premier Sponsors: American Airlines, the official airline of the James Beard Foundation, Deloitte; Supporting Sponsors: 1800® Tequila, Kerrygold USA; Patron Sponsor: Choose Chicago; with Additional Support from: Côtes du Rhône, Mountain Valley Spring Water, VerTerra Dinnerware, Windstar Cruises, the official cruise line of the James Beard Foundation,; and Founding Partner: Bowen & Company.
About the James Beard Foundation
The James Beard Foundation promotes Good Food For Good™. For more than 30 years, the James Beard Foundation has highlighted the centrality of food culture in our daily lives. Through the variety of industry programs that educate and empower leaders in our community, the Foundation has asserted the power of food to drive behavior, culture, and policy change. The organization is committed to giving chefs a voice and the tools they need to make the world more sustainable, equitable, and delicious for everyone. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the James Beard Foundation launched the Open for Good campaign to ensure that independent restaurants not only survive, but that the industry is able to rebuild stronger than before. For more information, subscribe to the digital newsletter Beard Bites and follow @beardfoundation on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Clubhouse. The James Beard Foundation is a national not-for-profit 501c(3) organization based in New York City.
About Capital One
At Capital One we’re on a mission for our customers – bringing them best-in-class products, rewards, service, and experiences. Capital One is a diversified bank that offers products and services to individuals, small businesses and commercial clients. We use technology, innovation, and interaction to provide consumers with products and services to meet their needs. Through Capital One Dining and Capital One Entertainment, we provide our rewards cardholders with access to unforgettable experiences in the areas they’re passionate about, including dining, music and sports. Learn more at capitalone.com/dining and capitalone.com/entertainment.