Remembering the Past - The Soul of Seattle 2020
In 2018, Chef Edouardo Jordan made history as the first African American recipient of the James Beard Award, Best New Restaurant for Junebaby. The following month, Chef Edouardo appeared on the podcast, Without Fail, sharing his beginnings leading up to his momentous wins. In his acceptance speech, he shared some wise words for his young son, “…And the future is yours, but don’t forget the past”.
This month Chef Edouardo shows us how he embodies those very words, taking the helm of various events to celebrate Black History Month to its absolute fullest. We had the immense pleasure of attending one of the events, The Soul of Seattle. Bringing cuisine and culture full circle, The Soul of Seattle was held at the Northwest African American Museum on February 7, 2020. As a perfect beginning to the event, guests were welcomed in the Journey Gallery, taking them through the immersive history of the African American community of the Pacific Northwest.
With ten local chefs of color, the evening provided the opportunity to sample the wonderful and varied talent with soulful bites. Throughout the evening, the chefs encouraged and warmly welcomed everyone to their table. Grazing from table to table, chef to chef, their personality shone. With Chef Kristi Brown of That Brown Girl Cooks, her fun and colorful demeanor was on full display with her spread of snacks and Hood Sushi. We’re looking forward to joining Chef Kristi at the table when Communion opens in Central District this spring. On our list of restaurants to check out, Jerk Shack sits at the top. With Chef Trey Lamont in the house, stopping by became an absolute necessity. Chef Trey’s Jerk Riblet was a spicy kick to heat up the evening and contrary to the heat, the riblet was tenderly soft with the meat falling away easily.
The Soul of Seattle embodies why Seattle Food Scene continues to meet and explore restaurants in the greater Seattle region; there’s always something new. With that exposure, unknowingly, many dishes possess history. For instance, Chef Matthew Lewis of Where Ya At Matt introduced us to our very first Johnny Cake with Andouille Sausage, making us wonder where else can we experience New Orleans cuisine in the 206.
Proceeds from the event went towards funding youth of diverse, under-served communities. For more Edouardo: Listen to his story of Showing Up at Your Dream Job Uninvited on your favorite streaming service or visit his home away from home at Salare, Lucinda Grain Bar, and JuneBaby. Lastly, a heartfelt thank you to United Way of King County for their commitment to building community; with their generosity we relished in an evening devoted on empowering fellow people of color.
