New Orleans is getting ready to celebrate June 11 with food

New Orleans is preparing to celebrate June 11 in probably the most New Orleans way: through culinary excellence. Seven chefs can be participating on the Grow Dat Youth Farm event on June 16 Third Annual Afro Freedom Afro Celebration June eleventh.

According to reports, the event goals to celebrate the community’s seniors and town’s culinary tradition. Some of one of the best chefs on the town will cook over an open firea practice dating back several centuries to the practices of enslaved Black Americans and Africans on the continent.

Seringe Mbaye, executive chef of Dakar Nola, told the magazine he is pleased with the event’s growth over the past few years.

“This event was beyond my capabilities, which was always my intention,” Mbaye said. “Seeing it grow and see so many chefs doing so much work in the community is just amazing. We share our story and inspire youth, not only in the African-American community, but also in our community here in New Orleans.”

Charly Pierre, who works at Haitian restaurant Fritai and has been involved because the starting, said the venue change made the event more accessible to more people.

“The first yr we worked on a farm in Mississippi, which was beautiful, but Grow Dat’s central location makes it more accessible to more people. I like where this is going. It’s numerous work on the production side, but this group really puts their hearts into it. We attract people not only from New Orleans, but from everywhere in the country. “

Chef Martha Wiggins, who represents Café Reconcile on the festivities, told Eater that the bond she shares with Mbaye makes it one in every of the events she gets involved with yearly. “Serigne is like a brother to me. I love the community it encourages and the spirit of the event. I trust those involved. The values ​​and mission fit together perfectly.”

Wiggins continued: “For us, everything comes together very organically. One of the things I really love to do is slow cook in large pots, which is why field peas and collards work so well for me. We all work well together and show up authentically. We have ongoing conversations about the history of race and civil rights in New Orleans. We’re talking about June 11, but more importantly, the idea that every month is Black History Month.”

The Juneteenth Celebration began on Ben Burkett’s farm in Petal, Mississippi in 2021, but moved to New Orleans City Park in 2023. In addition to Mbaye, Pierre and Wiggins, it should also feature chefs Nina Compton, Prince Lobo, Kaitlyn Guerin and Shonda Cross. participate within the event. IN press release informing concerning the eventMbaye noted the synergy between the event’s location, its mission and the values ​​of the New Orleans community.

“We will gather at the Grow Dat Youth Farm to focus on sustainability, the beauty of this land and its bountiful harvests, while honoring our ancestors who cultivated this very soil,” Mbaye said. “We invite everyone to join us in commemorating history, celebrating culinary artistry and inspiring our community, while supporting the development of our local youth.”

Julie Gable, co-executive director of the Grow Dat Youth Farm, and Lily Mejia, the Farm’s development manager, expressed their excitement for the event in a joint statement in a press release. “Grow Dat Youth Farm is pleased to host the Afro Freedom Afro Feast in partnership with Dakar NOLA,” the couple said. “As a youth advocacy organization committed to solidarity and love of the land, we are proud that the land we manage is used as a space for people from the African diaspora to communicate, celebrate and honor our ancestors on June 16 – and that our young leaders may witness and share in this joy!”