An Evening of Culinary Excellence: CUISINE NOIR Celebrates the Smithsonian’s NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY & CULTURE

#CULINARYDC2016 Meets #NMAAHC

(Note: all sound bites are less than a minute long)

By Le Anne Lindsay, Editor

This time T&T got a chance to cover a fabulous foodie event outside of Philly. I went to Washington D.C. for An Evening of Culinary Excellence hosted by Cuisine Noir magazine.

The reception, held at Toolbox Pilates Art Studio (1627 Connecticut Ave. NW) was to celebrate the opening of The National Museum of African American History & Culture, as Cuisine Noir’s magazine cover featuring Chef Joe Randall is a part of the museum’s Cultural Expressions exhibit featuring black chefs.

The celebrity chefs at the event shared gourmet tribute dishes and desserts:

Chef Timothy Dean (Contestant, Top Chef Season 7),

What I enjoyed about this dish the very tender chicken texture and the unexpected mixture for the stuffing.

Listen to Chef Dean present his dish

Chef Rock Harper (Winner, Hell’s Kitchen Season 3)

What I really loved about this Gumbo was the fried okra and normally I detest okra!Listen to Chef Harper present his dish

Chef Jumoke Jackson (Contestant, Food Network Beat Bobby Flay) Trust me the dish was far, far more tasty then the name suggests 🙂

Listen to Chef Jackson present his dish

Chef Padua Player (Contestant, 2015 Food Network Holiday Baking Championship)

The Suga Chef delighted our sweet tooth with several more mini dessert options, but this was my fav

Listen to Chef Player present his desserts

Paired with Wines from Black Winemakers

Mouton Noir Wines

I don’t see wine as a status symbol or some exclusive club. I see wine as art, geography, history, a condiment to life. My mission is to make wine more accessible to everyone! –André Hueston Mack (winemaker/entrepreneur) Mouton Noir

André was not able to attend the event, he procured a celebrity pourer for the evening Phyllis Bowie of Lifestyle Talk Show Living with Phyllis

Listen to mini interview with Phyllis

FLO Wines

Flo Wines is a lifestyle company created by Marcus Johnson, an internationally renowned, Billboard Top 10, NAACP Image Award-nominated jazz musician & entrepreneur.

While the Marcus Johnson Trio entertained us with jazz, Marcus’s sister, Kelly Johnson poured the wines for the tasting.

Listen to Kelly describe the wines

P. Harrell Wines

I love all things wine because it is one of those simple pleasures that seamlessly intertwine people from all walks of life, creating genuine friendships – Paula Harrell of PHarrell Wines

Listen to Paula describe her company and wines

Shoe Crazy Wines

Shoe Crazy Wine, LLC was founded by Gwen Hurt after a series of challenging events in her life, that happened within days of each other. Gwen made the decision to fight back the depression and pain and start a company that she could be proud of and most importantly passionate about. Thus the SCW story is truly a case of the tried and true cliche “Everything Happens for a Reason” and sometimes two things happen for a reason.

Listen to Gwen describe her wines and company

Sponsor – Ciroc ™ Ultra-Premium Vodka and Deleon Tequila.

DeLeón Tequila is made from the finest 100% Highland
Blue Weber agave sourced from the rich earth of the Los Altos region of
Jalisco.

Also got a chance to chat with V. Sheree Williams the editor/publisher and creative force behind Cuisine Noir Magazine. [lft. Sheree rt. Le Anne (Me)]

Listen to Sheree talk about what’s next for Cuisine Noir

All the Chefs gave speeches at the end of the night praising Chef Randall.
Then Chef Randall spoke eloquently about his cooking journey and his father’s
Civil Rights Activism

CLICK TO VIEW VIDEO

Sheree graciously offered me a ticket to the NMAAHC for the next day, and I was so happy to take advantage of it. If you’ve tried to get tickets, you know the museum is sold out til Jan 2017.

{On a personal note, a week before this event, I started a new job at The Marketplace PHL (as a temp) the company manages all the retail, food chains and kiosks in the Philadelphia Airport. It’s a black owned and operated company with black upper management. Because I requested 2 days off so soon after starting the assignment, I was let go. Even though I was honest about where I was and what I was doing. I think it’s shameful that they could not be supportive of me being able to be among those to visit the National Museum of African American History & Culture within the first week of its opening. I’m certain God has a better plan for me}

Below Facebook Slideshow

are more pics from the evening and inside the museum

Click image for more Photos and Recap of the Evening on Cuisine Noir, which also links back to my recap!

Cuisine Noir made its debut online in October of 2007 with a successful run through December 2008 as the first magazine to feature the talents of African-American culinary and wine professionals across the country.

In September 2009, the magazine re-emerged online under V. Sheree Publishing and has futher captured the market of African-American foodies and wine enthusiasts as well as
acting as a unique vehicle to showcase the talents of industry
professionals from all over the country. Each month, readers are treated to stories about industry experts and professionals to vineyards and world class destinations around the world.