Tracing the Roots and Culinary Connections of the Afro-Caribbean Diaspora

This cross-cultural collaboration dinner takes two acclaimed chefs on a culinary heritage journey to map the incredible food lineage of the Afro-Caribbean diaspora. Long before he was named a 2022 James Beard Award semifinalist® for Outstanding Chef, and before he won the 2023 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southwest, chef Andrew Black—the visionary behind Oklahoma City landmarks Grey Sweater and Black Walnut—was building outdoor clay ovens for his grandmother in Jamaica. And, before chef Nana Araba Wilmot—owner of Georgina's Private Chef and Catering Co. and founder of the Love That I Knead supper club—competed on Season 23 of Bravo’s Top Chef, she cooked alongside her mother to rediscover her Ghanaian roots.

Merging chef Wilmot’s high-caliber training at NYC's Michelin-starred Le Coucou with chef Black’s award-winning artistry, the menu explores the direct ties between West African ingredients and Caribbean cuisine. The evening also spotlights chef Blacks’s new restaurant, Dougla Kitchen, a deeply personal concept named for the Caribbean term honoring the beautiful intersection of African and South Asian heritage in Jamaica. 

This one-night-only dinner will feature a cocktail reception with passed hors d'oeuvre upon arrival, an expertly crafted multi-course menu with thoughtfully curated wine or beverage pairings, and a Q&A with the featured chefs.