For the first time ever, Delaware will host a James Beard Foundation dinner open to the public.
On April 23 at downtown Wilmington’s new The Chancery Market food hall, 12 Wilmington chefs will showcase their food in a many-course, family style “Sunday Supper.”
This will include fancy meats from some of the regions’ most acclaimed chefs: Iberico pork cheeks from Antimo Dimeo of Bardea Food and Drink, pistachio-glazed cod from Michael DiBianca of Ciro Food and Drink, and a marjoram-and-wine inflected veal plate from Tyler Akin of Le Cavalier.
The president of the James Beard Foundation will be in attendance. For $200, you could be, too.
So who’s James Beard and why is it a big deal that the Foundation is having a dinner here?
The late chef James Beard was one of the culinary standardbearers of American food — a jovial and lightly portly booster for the notion that humble regional American food is every bit as interesting, complex and tasty as anything from fancy Europe.
The James Beard Foundation Awards, on the other hand, are often called the Oscars of the food world, and are broadly considered the most prestigious prize that restaurants and chefs in America can receive.
When chefs put prizes in their dreambook, it’s usually a James Beard.
So a James Beard Sunday Supper in Wilmington is kind of a big deal?
If you’re a chef or a food nerd? Boy is it!
These dinners, held as fundraisers for the foundation, are often a way for talented chefs to spotlight their food to the bigwigs in charge of the James Beard Foundation.
This dinner, organized in part by the Wilmington It’s Time campaign, is in part a chance to “shine a light” on Wilmington’s downtown dining scene, spokesperson Katie Zamarra said.
Wilmington mayor Mike Purzycki has declared himself “thrilled” the James Beard Foundation will be coming to town. So has the event’s big sponsor, Johnson Commercial Real Estate, the developer behind The Chancery Market.
Have Delaware restaurants been recognized by the James Beard Awards before?
Dogfish Head’s Sam Calagione won as the best beer professional in the country in 2017, after many nominations.
Winner winner:Dogfish Head’s Calagione wins Beard Award
But historically, Delaware has sometimes had a distant relationship with the James Beard awards. Despite an overall uptick in nominations, no Delaware chef has won the national restaurant prize, nor the regional prize as best chef in a Mid-Atlantic Region that also includes Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
In the 2023 awards, despite a Wilmington restaurant boom — and some accolades in the national food press as an up-and-coming dining town — Delaware didn’t receive a single James Beard nomination. This was the first time this occurred since 2007.
So is this fundraising dinner an attempt to get noticed after a snub?
Not according to its organizers. This meal has been in the works since fall 2022, Zamarra said.
Who else will cook at the Wilmington Sunday Supper?
Dan Butler of Italian spot Toscana will make a pasta “all’inglese” with twisty, turny, hearty cassarecci pasta.
Many chefs from the event’s hosts at The Chancery Market food hall will also cook, including a basmati rice side dish from Kati Roll Wala, and a bunch of hors d’oeuvres: spicy chicken from David Chang outlet Fuku, loaded sweet potatoes from vegan spot Rooted AF, and salmon sliders from Market Street Burger and Dogs.
From Oath 84, chef Justin Womack will make a host of appetizers including ahi tuna bruscherta, Singapore tuna avocado and a jerk chicken egg roll.
Can I eat the same dessert that President Joe Biden ate last month?
That’s a funny sort of question. But the answer is yes.
Last month, President and first lady Biden stopped by Wilmington hotel restaurant Quoin for a meal that included a Meyer lemon tart, and it will be on offer at this dinner. Quoin chef Joe DeLago will also serve up a sticky toffee pudding, and a pancetta with chocolate sauce and macerated strawberry.
A little tart:President and first lady dine at Wilmington’s The Quoin. And they didn’t get the same dish
How much will this all set me back, and how do I get tickets?
We are assured that the $200 meal ticket includes all the food, and all sorts of alcoholic beverages that include Italian wines from Delaware private label Paul Cullen, local beer from Wilmington Brew Works, and a peach-and-cinnamon cocktail called “The Wilmington” made with Aviation Gin by the Juice Joint’s Lanice Wilson.
Gratuity is included. Tax is included. The price does not, however, inlcude the Eventbrite ticketing fee of about $15. Tickets at bit.ly/WilmSunday.
The James Beard Wilmington Sunday Supper takes place 5 p.m., April 23, at The Chancery Market, 1313 N. Market St., Wilmington. More details at jamesbeard.org.
