The death of George Floyd at the hands of a brutal police system and the protests that have followed, lay bare the vast inequities that exist in America. Many of their employees are immigrants, like most comprising the backbone of the restaurant industry. Elijah Milligan of Au Terroir. One of our co-founders, Chef Kurt Evans fights for food justice every day. Robert Toland of Terrain Cafe. Chef artist-activist and social entrepreneur Kurt Evans was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Fifty people attended, including then-candidate for Lt. Chef and activist Kurt Evans, founder of the End Mass Incarceration Dinners and a co-founder of Cooks for the Culture, is heading up the kitchen at Booker’s Restaurant & Bar, the upscale Southern food spot in West Philly’s Cedar Park neighborhood. All photos are courtesy of Kurt Evans. Victor Pinckney, private chef. Lauren Smith of Citizens Bank Park. I learned to cook from my grandmothers and have experience working in both mass production cooking and fine dining restaurants. Grab the bag and squeeze out the excess air. Kurt Evans, then the chef and culinary director at Drive Change, checking his barbecued chicken for doneness. Governor, along with other political and civic leaders. He is a well versed Culinary and Hospitality Professional with over 25 plus years of hospitality experience in several food service environments; from corporate food service, upscale steakhouses, medical/retirement facilities to independent eateries. Food has a long association with Black activism, the subject of a book I’m working on. I want to be taken to the place the writer is describing, where the food comes from. We exclusively employ formerly incarcerated individuals while providing culinary career opportunities at a fair wage and equitable workplace. Through the EMI dinner series, Kurt is bringing awareness to and garnering solutions for a pressing community issue. Wright appeared briefly in the 1966 documentary Mississipi: A Self-Portrait and spoke about his experience there. Chef Kurt Evans. I’m always buying, mostly cookbooks, from specialized and antiquarian bookstores and online. KE: I start each meal—and conversation—with an amuse-bouche of prison-inspired Chi Chi. There, he managed a professional training fellowship program for formerly incarcerated youth. I research and write a bit each day. Chef and activist Kurt Evans, founder of the End Mass Incarceration Dinners and a co-founder of Cooks for the Culture, is heading up the kitchen at Booker’s Restaurant & Bar, the … I’ve worked in great restaurants to hone my skills, which I now use in innovative ways to raise awareness and inspire action to end mass incarceration—and, to raise money for organizations dedicated to this issue. It’s one that marries serving top-quality delicious comfort food with the mission of reducing recidivism rates in Black communities. Note that clicking the link below will block access to this site for 24 hours. Chef, artist-activist and social entrepreneur Kurt Evans is back in his native Philadelphia, following a stint as culinary director at New York-based nonprofit Drive Change. Vendors now come to me. At the studio you can sip some tea and relax, attend cooking classes, and also purchase her beautiful wood crafts. From then on, I researched everyone online so I could be more intentional and strategic about seating at future dinners. Read more about. Jezabel meticulously designed and furnished the space herself. They decided to join forces, bringing in Milligan and fellow chefs Aziza Young, Gregory Headen, and Malik Ali. Evans has an … Celebrated Photographer Dawoud Bey Looks Back at His Past, Towards an Everyday Feeling: The Anomaly That Is Phoebe Bridgers, Curator Ikechúkwú Onyewuenyi on the Reopening of Unseen Biennial Made in L.A. 2020: a version, Tschabalala Self Presents the Beauty of Black Women in Her Own Terms, Andrea Marie Breiling Mixes Up a Dream Cocktail, New Sculptures By Doug Meyer Transport Us to Isolation Utopia. Almost everyone had seen and was talking about the movie 13th by Ava DuVernay. “Kurt is extremely talented,” said Saba Tedla, who owns Booker’s as well as nearby Mediterranean concept Aksum. BSE New York Metro Only . Ingredients: As chef Kurt Evans mentioned earlier, his … Gregory Headon of Starr Restaurants. When I returned to Philadelphia this spring, I needed to find things to do. The chef will make small changes this month, then implement his new menu in May. He also uses his culinary skills to rally a community around ending mass incarceration. Greater Philadelphia Pennsylvania (East of State College), New Jersey (Trenton & South), Delaware. The founder of Philadelphia's Down North Pizza, chef and activist Kurt Evans has launched "A Match Made In Philly," featuring limited-edition menu collaborations with some of Philadelphia's culinary stars. Today Kurt is sous chef at SOUTH a restaurant that has a refined menu … If inspired, invite some people to your home to sample, start a conversation on mass-incarceration and join my movement. “He understands what it means to be the heart of the neighborhood.”, Nine Great Spots For Bird-Watching in Philly and the ’Burbs, Real Philly Therapists on the Worst Mental Health Advice and Trends They’ve Seen on TikTok, 9 Philly Hotels With Over-the-Top Amenities. But food insecurity is nothing new in Philadelphia. Evans will cook what he calls “modern Southern” — dishes referencing the myriad culinary regions of the South, made with ingredients that pay homage to classic recipes and presented through a contemporary lens. Shop Back Issues and Artist Editions, here! Chef Kurt Evans. I read and collect all kinds of cookbooks. It’s about an hour before dinner service, and Kurt Evans is working on an appetizer. Chef Kurt Evans has focused the restaurant on Detroit style pizza and hiring employees who have been formerly incarcerated. And not just because the Detroit-style pies with crispy cheese sides at Down North Pizza in Strawberry Mansion have continuously sold out for preopening pop-ups. Evans speaking at an EMI dinner. Chris Paul of Everything We Eat. News of an upcoming food drive, with the hashtag “everybodyeats,” went out on the Cooking for the Culture Instagram account. People dancing, playing dominoes, talking about music and politics. Chef artist-activist and social entrepreneur Kurt Evans was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Easter Sunday brunch at Booker’s — pea and ham fritter soup, catfish Benedict, and Mississippi mud pie French toast — will give folks a sneak preview. I only collect first editions, though I have bought a 6th edition book from 1922. It’s set up as a fair wage, equitable workplace for employees, all of whom were formerly incarcerated. BSE Greater Philadelpia Only. Chef Kurt Evans at Booker’s | Photo by Katie Briggs. Joy Parham-Thomas of Malvern Buttery. “We’re a neighborhood restaurant, and our commitment is to the immediate community and giving them higher quality,” Tedla said. Next. Kurt Evans of South. Jennifer Turnage of Philadelphia University. Cost: $18 Route 23 Cafe. MANUFACTURER ALLIANCES. KURT EVANS. Chef Kurt Evans, known for his End Mass Incarceration (EMI) series of dinners held at restaurants around Philadelphia throughout 2018, is ramping up his crusade for prison reform with a new pizza shop that will employ ex-offenders. Pearl’s Pleasurable Eatery. Before that, he ran his own catering company, worked as a corporate chef, and owned the now-closed Route 23 Cafe in Germantown. Last year, Evans became the executive chef of Booker’s, a modern Southern restaurant in West Philly, when his friend, Honeysuckle chef and artist Omar Tate, came across the … The name Booker’s is a reference to Booker as a common African-American surname as well as to Booker Wright, a Black waiter at a whites-only restaurant in 1960s Mississippi. Roll into a long log and let sit 20-25 minutes (until it’s the consistency of a tamale). Cathy Leff checks in with Evans to dig deeper into his mission-driven, multi-pronged agenda. Chef artist-activist and social entrepreneur Kurt Evans born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. i use food as a vehicle to talk about mass incarceration + systemic racism. Facebook Twitter Instagram Twitter Instagram This search result is here to prevent scraping, Sweet Amalia Is Building an Oyster Destination in South Jersey, Waterfront Dining: Where to Eat by the Water Around Philadelphia, 26 Places to Eat a Roast Pork Sandwich in Philadelphia, What Philly's Ghost Kitchens Means for the Restaurant Industry. Kurt Evans: I am a chef who uses food as a tool of activism. As a result, he lost his job of 25 years, was pistol-whipped by a cop, and Wright’s own restaurant, Booker’s Place, was firebombed. Chef Kurt Evans is engaging the Philadelphia community in conversations about race, class, and the criminal justice system. This time launching 'A Match Made In Philly,' When the program ended due to the COVID-19, Evans returned to his hometown, simultaneously working on a new book, continuing to build his culinary-focused library and re-establishing a workforce development program at Down North Pizza. Next. The series kicked off appropriately on Tuesday, National Pizza Day, with 11-time James Beard Award nominee and Best Chef Mid-Atlantic winner Marc Vetri, a news release said. Kurt Evans, a chef and activist who co-founded Cooking for the Culture with chef Elijah Milligan, was working on the same thing. The move also represents a homecoming for Evans, who grew up in nearby Kingsessing and currently lives in Cedar Park. Everybody Eats. A message from Chef Kurt Evans Down North Pizza is a continuation of a dream to use my culinary skills for activism. Faces & Visions ; Food Justice; Related. Evans is the chef behind the successful End Mass Incarcerationdinner series in Philadelphia, a multi-course meal where families impacted by mass incarceration, law makers, law … She is currently stepping into a new chapter of her career as she launches her new venture, Jezabel’s Studio, in West Philadelphia. My collection, with books dating back to the early 19th century, is international. 4102 Germantown Ave. Founded by childhood friends, Muhammed Abdul-Hadi and Chef Kurt Evans, Down North Pizza is no ordinary neighborhood pizza joint. Shake up and down a few times to mix. “What makes a solid chef is a good foundation — leadership, culinary technique, and discipline — and that’s what he’s shown us.”. José Andrés is Peace Prize stuff. I started working with South Philly Barbacoa, the local partner of chef José Andrés’s World Central Kitchen, feeding 200 people a day. In that bag, add 1 cup of very hot water. There, he managed a professional training fellowship program for formerly incarcerated youth. During the Bus Boycotts, Georgia Gilmore and other women fed the entire movement, selling food from their homes and raising bail bond funds. Even with a full plate, Evans is thinking about re-launching his “End Mass Incarceration” (EMI) dinner series, initially launched in 2017. Chef Kurt Evans is taking the idea behind his End Mass Incarceration dinner series several steps further with Down North, his upcoming North Philly pizza … After seeing how incarceration impacted their families and how many of their loved ones … A recent New York transplant from Philadelphia, Kurt Evans is an activist — so it makes sense that he’s the new culinary director for Brooklyn-based … View Our Digital Line Card TEAM Sales Team Jeff Hessel Alex Grover Josh Koones Chef Dan Pino Chef Chris Cooper Chef Ed Soehngen Kurt Evans Chef Brian Lore Butch St. Onge Chef Anthony Muzia Jason … Kurt Evans is inspired. If you're a human and see this, please ignore it. Omar Tate of Peaches Shrimp & Crab. Now, I’m interested in philosophy, stories and context. Kurt found a culinary spark cooking southern style dishes, alongside his grandmothers as a child. While Evans was coming into his own as a chef and restaurateur, he got connected to Cristina Martinez and Benjamin Miller, chef-owners of South Philly Barbacoa (now El Compadre). I also bought a pizza restaurant, Down North, prior to going to New York. The Black Panthers’ Free Breakfast for School Children Program fed thousands of kids and was the antecedent for the now-federally-funded free breakfast programs across the country. Ben Bynum, the local legend behind several Philly restaurants and jazz clubs, … Chef Kurt Evans will staff his new Philadelphia pizza restaurant Down North with formerly incarcerated workers, from cashiers to cooks to dishwashers. She has an amazing library on the rich culinary heritage of African Americans. Early on, I collected recipes. Mix all well, along with the ramen flavor packet and 1Tbs of mayonnaise, in the empty Cheetos bag. 428 W Olney Ave. I’m on auto-pilot. After several months of planning, the two decided to combine their love of pizzas and their passion to serve by opening up Down North Pizza in the heart of North Philadelphia last month. The chef behind the End Mass Incarceration and Cooks for the Culture dinner series will bring his contemporary Southern fare to the Cedar Park bar and restaurant. When the program ended due to the COVID-19, Evans returned to his hometown, simultaneously working on a new book, continuing to … Lifelong friends Kurt Evans and Muhammed Abdul-Hadi have always had a passion for giving back to their community. EMI was birthed in 2017 with an itinerant agenda, and the first dinner was held at the restaurant Farmacy RX. Down North Pizza is a mission-led for-profit restaurant providing excellent food and quality customer service to North Philadelphia. PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Kurt Evans, chef activist and co-founder of Down North Pizza, and the 'DNP' crew are back. Christina’s interest is raising funds to support immigrants’ rights. Known as a "chef-tivist" Kurt … PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Kurt Evans, chef activist and co-founder of Down North Pizza, and the 'DNP' crew are back. Kurt has now cooked professionally for over 14 years and continues to learn innovative cooking … “Evans is the chef behind the successful End Mass Incarceration dinner series in Philadelphia, a multi-course meal where families impacted by mass incarceration, law makers, law enforcement officials, and curious diners have conversations about prison reform over his seasonal dishes. I’ve always helped others with dinners around their social issues and wanted to do my own, addressing issues important to my neighborhood. Evans has some other projects simmering, too: Down North, the mission-driven pizza and wing spot in North Philly, is set for a June opening, and the End Mass Incarceration dinner series will return sometime in May. Since then, he's went on to hone his skills in some of Philadelphia’s most esteemed kitchens. KE: I have more than 1000 books in my collection. There was a growing awareness in the media—news and popular—around mass incarceration. Access to healthy food tops the list of those inequities. He’s also planning to incorporate dishes inspired by other regions of the African diaspora and switch things up as the seasons change. “I like Booker’s because of the story that it represents, and I feel that I’m the perfect chef to tell that story on the plate,” said Evans, who worked for last year and a half as sous chef at South Jazz Kitchen. If you're a scraper, please click the link below :-) My dream is to rival hers. To make, combine one bag of cheese puffs (smashed well into fine pieces) with one pack of any flavor ramen noodles (crushed into semi-small pieces). For at least two years, chef Kurt Evans has been working to open a pizzeria in North Philadelphia that would employ formerly incarcerated people, to give them a chance to start over. Chef, artist-activist and social entrepreneur Kurt Evans is back in his native Philadelphia, following a stint as culinary director at New York-based nonprofit Drive Change. Chef Donnell is a native of Richmond, California in the San Francisco/East Bay Area who currently resides in Philadelphia, PA. As a chef, artist and activist--I have long held a passion for honoring the culture through food, education and creating protected spaces to celebrate all of these things. March 14, 2018. I started participating in “activism” dinners with friends Ben Miller and Christina Martinez, owners of Barbacoa. Kurt is more than just a chef. About 40% is dedicated to African American cookbooks or writers of African American cookbooks. I wanted to bring food into that conversation. PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- For the past two and half years, local entrepreneur chef Kurt Evans has had a vision of a different kind of pizza shop. By Alexandra Jones. He’s giving away a lot of money to support undocumented workers and smart solutions for addressing hunger and poverty. I really admire author, activist and collector Tony Tipton-Martin, who wrote The Jemima Code (2015), among other books dealing with African American culture. Unroll, and serve at room temperature. Kurt Evans has cooked professionally for over 12 years and continues to learn innovative cooking techniques and creative recipes. 'Re a human and see this, please ignore it cooking southern style dishes alongside. 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