PHILADELPHIA - James Beard Foundation announced featured chefs, cities, and programming for its annual Taste America event. The 2020 Taste America event presented by Capital One will take place on Sunday, October 18 in 20 cities nationwide at 5 P.M. PT / 8 P.M. ET.
This year, in lieu of the usual in-person events, participating chefs, special guests, and diners from twenty cities around the country will come together for a virtual communal dinner to eat, celebrate local independent restaurants, and support efforts to rebuild a more sustainable and equitable industry. The special dinner and show enjoyed from the comfort of home will bring together thousands of chefs and food lovers on one special night.
Each event ticket includes a local chef-created three-course meal plus wine and whiskey to be enjoyed at home and access to a broadcast featuring a lineup of James Beard Foundation chefs and special guests from across the country. The broadcast will be emceed by Antonia Lofaso and will feature two roundtables featuring participating chefs listed below as well as special guests including Carla Hall, Gail Simmons, and DJ Hesta Prynn who will curate music throughout the event. A round of trivia to test your food knowledge in your home city will also entertain and challenge participants.
Capital One cardholders have the exclusive opportunity to purchase a Capital One Access Pass that allows them to enjoy the three-course meal, wine, and whiskey, and national broadcast while also unlocking access to a VIP reception with their city’s featured chef and Foundation host prior to showtime and a special gift.
Through its Open for Good campaign, the Foundation is working to help the independent restaurant industry survive the COVID-19 crisis and come back stronger, more equitable, and more resilient. As part of this campaign, the Foundation recently announced the James Beard Foundation Food and Beverage Investment Fund for Black and Indigenous Americans. The new grant initiative will provide financial resources for food or beverage businesses that are majority-owned by Black or Indigenous individuals and will be highlighted in the broadcast. For information on the Foundation’s Open for Good campaign, industry support resources, and the Investment Fund, please visit jamesbeard.org/aboutopenforgood.
