Platform by the James Beard Foundation® (Platform by JBF)—the state-of-the-art show kitchen, event space, and educational hub located inside New York City’s Pier 57, is celebrating both Pride and Caribbean American Heritage Month with a series of culinary events, workshops, and beverage seminars.
For more details and tickets, visit jamesbeard.org/platform.
June 10 Dinner: A Feast of Spring’s Bounty with Award-Winning Hudson Valley Chefs
Highlighting the best of the region’s culinary scene are James Beard Award–nominated chef Shaina Loew-Banayan of Cafe Mutton in Hudson, NY; James Beard Award semifinalist® chef Efrén Hernández of Casa Susanna in Leeds, NY and Rivertown Tavern in Hudson, NY; chef Daniel Meissner of Willa in Millerton, NY; James Beard Award semifinalist® chef Sohail Zandi of Brushland Eating House in Bovina, NY, and the wines of Hudson Chatham Winery in Ghent, NY.
June 17 Caribbean Food and Art with Chef Joachim Joseph and Artist Malene Barnett
Guests will have the chance to join award-winning artist and author Malene Barnett, known for her book Crafted Kinship: Inside the Creative Practices of Contemporary Black Caribbean Makers, as she leads a hands-on workshop where participants can paint their own Yabba pot, a traditional handcrafted vessel used for cooking and serving food. As a special takeaway, each guest will take home a one-of-a-kind Yabba pot, handcrafted in Malene’s studio—a meaningful keepsake that extols the artistry of Caribbean pottery. Chef Joachim Joseph, a visionary Grenadian plant-based chef, will demonstrate a fresh take on Oildown, Grenada’s beloved national dish, which infuses ancestral cooking traditions with a modern twist.
June 18 Beverage Seminar: A Cocktail Journey from East to West with James Beard Award Semifinalist® Sip and Guzzle
Join Sip & Guzzle owner and award-winning bartender Steve Schneider and head bartender Ben Yabrow for a one-of-a-kind evening where tradition meets innovation. This exclusive beverage seminar offers a captivating journey through the evolution of the modern cocktail movement, viewed through the lens of Sip & Guzzle—a bar that seamlessly blends the finest elements of Eastern and Western bar culture. From the classic libations of the 1800s to today’s cutting-edge recipes and techniques, Schneider and Yarbrow will guide you through the eras of cocktail innovation while you indulge in a curated selection of Sip & Guzzle’s signature cocktails and thoughtfully paired bar bites. *Note, sold out.
June 20 Dinner: Paella Party with Austin’s El Raval
Chef Laila Bazahm, the chef behind El Raval in Austin and the former owner of Hawker 45 in Barcelona, will be serving up her signature paella: a fusion of bold Spanish, Asian, and Latin influences. Inspired by her upbringing in the Philippines and her time in Barcelona’s El Raval—where 47.4% of its population are expats—chef Laila’s paella blends spices and ingredients from the diverse neighborhoods she’s called home.
June 26 Dinner: Take a Trip to Corsica and Sardinia with Chef Tyler Akin of Bastia
Join chef Tyler Akin of Philadelphia’s acclaimed Bastia for an extraordinary culinary voyage celebrating the cuisines of both Corsica and Sardinia. These two Mediterranean islands, nestled off the coasts of France and Italy, offer diverse culinary traditions shaped by centuries of history and culture by the sea. Chef Akin will craft a multi-course dinner that balances Corsican and Sardinian points of view, expertly reinterpreted through the Mid-Atlantic’s rich seasonality.
June 27 Kick-off A Weekend of Pride with a One-Night-Only Dinner
It’s that time of year: Pride Month in New York City! This not-to-be-missed dinner brings together an inspiring lineup of culinary and pastry talent, showcasing chefs who represent the vibrant and thriving LGBTQ+ community in the restaurant industry. The dream team includes: 2024 Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic semifinalist® Dane DeMarco of Gass & Main, Hell’s Kitchen winner Kyle Timpson, 2024 Best Chef: Southeast semifinalist® Arnold Myint from Nashville’s International Market, and Junoon’s executive pastry chef Gustavo Tzoc, who will join forces to create a memorable menu that honors diversity, creativity, and their combined culinary stories.
June 28 Dinner: Las Californias: A Collaboration with Chefs Jesús Medina and Miguel Baltazar
Join in for an extraordinary evening showcasing the cuisine of Las Californias at this collaboration dinner that combines the innovative talent of executive chef Miguel Baltazar and executive sous chef Miriam Jimenez of Palmerio at Four Seasons Cabo San Lucas at Cabo del Sol, along with executive chef Jesus Medina and executive pastry chef Riccardo Menicucci of La Ola of Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills.
June 30 Dinner: Omakase and Izakaya with James Beard Award Nominee® Chef Jesse Ito and Chef Justin Bacharach, Presented by Capital One
the acclaimed Philadelphia chefs from Royal Sushi and Izakaya—Jesse Ito and Justin Bacharach—will bring their signature precision and creativity to New York City. Known for exquisite omakase and a deep reverence for Japanese technique, Ito, a James Beard Award–nominated chef, will offer guests a unique experience, blending the best of Royal Sushi’s omakase with a sneak peek of his highly anticipated new project, Dancerobot, an ’80s-inspired izakaya set to open soon in Philly. For this special dinner, expect a fusion of tradition and nostalgia, with dishes and drinks that nod to the electric, neon-drenched energy of 1980s Japan. *Note, sold out.