November 17, 7:00 P.M. Dinner: Friendsgiving: A Celebration of the New American Table
November 17, 2023 07:00 PM
Gratitude, Gathering, and Community: A Dinner Curated by Chef Eric See
25 11th Ave, New York, NY 10011, USA
In the spirit of gratitude and gathering, we invite you to join our table at Platform by JBF to partake in a meal that highlights the diversity of the American table today. Curated by twice James Beard Award–nominated chef Eric See (Ursula), this dinner celebrates the active and historical contributions of the unique regional and ethnic cuisines that have transformed the American culinary story.
Acknowledging the genesis of the American table being Indigenous, we will begin with a reception featuring Shinnecock Oysters from farmer Mila McKey of the Shinnecock Nation with a welcome cocktail crafted by Eric See.
The family-style meal will continue with a seasonal spread of unique dishes weaving together a rich tapestry that celebrates ancestral-Colombian, Chinese, and New Mexican cuisines from Eric See of Ursula restaurant, chef and artist Stephanie Bonnin of La TropiKitchen, and Wen-Jay Ying of Local Roots, followed by dessert from Harlem-born pastry chef Kareem Queeman, founder of Mr. Bake Sweets.
Bring a loved one, your chosen family, or just yourself, and join us as we make new friends and break bread together around the table in celebration of delicious food and community.
Dining Table: $150 / Inside Chef's Counter: $165 / Outside Chef's Counter: $120
MENU
Hors d’Ouevre
Eric See
The Ditch Witch Spicy Corn Negroni> Corn-Infused Mezcal with Gin, Suze, and Ancho Reyes Poblano Liqueur
Mila Mckey
Shinnecock Oysters> Shinnecock Territory–Grown “Mirelle” Oysters with Pickled Sea Lettuce, Maple Mignonette, Moroccan Olive Oil, and Sumac
Stephanie Bonnin
Salsa Criolla with Aji Charapita Peppers
Dinner
Eric See
Pumpkin Soup with Fried Squash Blossom
Juniper Ash Blue Corn Bread
Wen-Jay Ying
Vegan Mapo Tofu with Scallion Pancakes
Kareem Queeman
Sichuan-Spiced Collards
Stephanie Bonnin
Pastel de Pato> Rice Tamal with Duck Pastrami, Magret, and Duck Demi-Glace
Dessert
Kareem Queeman
Aunt Janet’s Sweet Potato Pie
Banana Pudding Trifle
Wines
Twisted Cedar Chardonnay 2020
Twisted Cedars Malbec 2020
Twisted Cedar Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Twisted Cedar Moscato 2019
Liquor generously donated by Granja Nomada Mezcal and Condesa Gin.
About Stephanie Bonnin:
Stephanie Bonnin is a Colombian born and raised chef, formally trained at ICE in New York City and at the Basque Culinary Center in San Sebastian, Spain. Since founding LaTropiKitchen, Stephanie has become a self-taught food ethnographer studying the intersecting migrant and food pathways of her home country. Colombia is a richly biodiverse country where the food responds to its diverse territories and regional differences. LaTropiKitchen offers a nostalgic experience for migrants and a unique gastronomic expression for the culturally curious. The team is comprised of food hustlers and entrepreneurs who deliver comprehensive and hand-crafted experiences through pop-ups, catering, private dinners, and short-term residences.
About Mila McKey:
Born in Hawaii and raised in coastal Australia, Mila Mckey is a Shinneock oyster farmer, producing around 20,000 oysters a season and catering to private events and local festivities.
In 2020, Mckey began working full-time cultivating oysters on the Shinnecock shores in Long Island. Mckey chose to have a small farm in order to produce the best quality oyster and try different methods.
About Kareem Queeman:
Kareem Queeman affectionately known as Mr. Bake to all, graduated from The Culinary Institute of New York at Monroe College. He was a 2023 James Beard Foundation Award semifinalist for Outstanding Pastry Chef and Baker.
After losing his mother in 2017, it became Kareem’s mission to represent Black and queer bakers on a national scale. He has appeared on Netflix, Food Network, Rachael Ray, the TODAY Show, and was the 2018 winner of the Discovery Family series "Bake it Like Buddy.”
In addition to his success on national television, Kareem is also proud to celebrate a decade of his LLC for Mr. Bake Sweets. His popular desserts are backed by Southern family recipes and perfected through a lifetime of baking.
About Eric See:
Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, Eric See is a trained pastry chef and the chef/owner of the twice James Beard Award–nominated Ursula, in Brooklyn, New York. Since opening Ursula during the beginning of the pandemic, both his food and community activism have been applauded by the industry near and far. Eric was awarded a StarChefs Rising Star Community Chef Award in 2020, and was named one of Bon Appetit’s Heads of the Table in 2021, recognizing leaders in the industry for their positive impact on the hospitality industry and his work within the queer food community.
About Wen-Jay Ying:
Wen-Jay Ying is the founder and boss at Local Roots NYC, a small business that has connected New Yorkers with produce that’s always local and always fresh since 2011, through weekly subscription-based farmers markets at bars and cafes. In 2021, the Local Roots Market & Cafe opened, serving Chinese farm-to-table food, selling local produce, meats, and dairy. They have recently opened kiosks in Midtown and at the new Pier 57 James Beard–curated food hall in Chelsea.
Tickets to events held at Platform at Pier 57 by the James Beard Foundation cover the cost of food, education and a unique dining experience. Meals are prepared by culinary masters from all regions of the United States and around the world. Unless otherwise stated, alcoholic beverages are provided on a complimentary basis and are not included in the ticket price.
James Beard Foundation events permit guests age 21 years and older to attend events where alcoholic beverages are served.