Every year, thousands of people flock to South Florida for the Food Network’s South Beach Wine & Food Festival (SOBEWFF). Amazing chefs, delectable dishes and joyful camaraderie are some of the festival’s overall highlights, but it has been criticized in the past for its lack of diversity.
This year, “The Cookout” hosted by Chef JJ Johnson and co-hosted by Angela Yee, succeeded in helping the festival continue its efforts to change that. The brainchild of Johnson, the event is in its 2nd year and has drawn people from all walks of life at both SOBEWFF and the New York City Wine & Food Festival.
According to organizers, the 2nd annual event sold out a week before SOBEWFF even started and over 600 people were in attendance at Johnson’s signature event on Saturday, Feb. 24 at the Eden Roc Miami Beach. The FIELDTRIP founder’s commitment to investing in Black culture and elevating Black chefs was on full display.
The 2024 Cookout (SOBE Edition) featured national and local Black and Brown chefs with dishes that ranged from fried fish, grilled oysters, flame-grilled burgers, BBQ oxtails and honey fried chicken to mac & cheese with jerk chicken & broccoli, smoked BBQ rib tips with a spicy pineapple slaw, beef suya, pork belly, ice cream and plantain pudding.
The talented chefs included:
- Chef Kevin Ashade, owner of Pangea Restaurant & Bar (Dallas, TX)
- Chef Karim Bryant, owner of Lil Greenhouse Grill(Miami, FL)
- Chef Tristen Epps, executive chef at Eden Roc(Miami, FL)
- Ronnie Faust, owner of Fat Ronnie’s Burger Bar(Miami, FL)
- Joel Franklin, owner of Phuse Cream (Plantation, FL)
- Chef Justin Gaines, chef proprietor at Tap@1918(Rocky Mount, NC)
- Chef Amaris Jones, owner of Chick N Jones (Miami, FL)
- Travis Reece, owner of Chef Reece Kitchen (Miami, FL)
- Daren Reid, owner of PurpleLit Oyster Company(Miami, FL)
- J. Santiago, owner of J. Adel’s Eatery (Miami, FL)
- Chef Derrick Turton, owner of World-Famous House of Mac (Miami, FL)
Complete with great food, music from She-J Hercules and even line-dancing, many attendees said The Cookout lived up to the hype. Johnson said he was excited about Saturday’s turnout and expounded on why he created the event.
“I started this event, The Cookout, because I wanted to celebrate us, Black people, and the excellence that we are. And when you think about Black food, many people don’t know how diverse it is and that’s what ‘The Cookout’ represents,” Johnson told Hy-Lo News. “The greatest thing about the people here is that when you look around the room it looks like America. It’s diverse with all types of people.”
Yee, who has also ventured into the foodpreneur space with her ‘Coffee Uplifts People’ brand, echoed Johnson’s sentiments. She told Hy-Lo how happy she was to be invited to co-host.
“It’s such a great event to have as part of the wine and food festival,” Yee said, noting how much she was enjoying “the vibe” and variety of dishes at The Cookout.
“I think sometimes people don’t take into account the amount of revenue that these Black and Brown restaurants bring to the table and the flavor, so an event like this probably, between us, is the most fun event,” she continued. “Whatever it is that you like, it’s here.”
Yee added how impressed she was with the genuine community among the chefs. “What I love about this community of chefs and people here in general, a lot of the restaurant owners support each other. It’s been amazing for me to see all the chefs here who know each other,” she said.
House of Mac owner Derrick Turton aka Chef Teach told Hy-Lo he’s been participating in the SOBEWFF for three years and Johnson’s Cookout for two. He said he initially got involved to represent for Black Chefs after being contacted by SOBEWFF diversity consultant Dr. Lisa Davis.
“It just wasn’t a lot of inclusion of us, so I just felt the need to represent and get on the front lines with that,” Chef Teach said. “It’s been an amazing experience, melting pot of people, a lot of different cultures and just exposing our brand to a lot of different people.”
He said Johnson “nailed it” when he came up with the Cookout idea. “I like to see the inclusiveness. It’s very important just to be representing the culture in the overall scope of things,” Teach said. “For years you go to food & wine festival and it’s just everything but us.”
Nicole Gates, co-owner of Lil’ Greenhouse Grill said being invited to participate in The Cookout was a “special” experience.
“Being invited to participate in ‘The Cookout’ is so very special for us at Lil’ Greenhouse Grill. It allows us the opportunity to connect and reconnect with chefs from not only all over South Florida but from across the country,” gates told Hy-Lo. “Being able to pair our culinary skills and customer service with others who are in the same business is always a wonderful gift and a pleasure.”
Lileana Blain-Cruz, a first time-attendee, flew down from Manhattan, New York, and came to The Cookout with a friend. She told Hy-Lo it was a great experience.
“It’s beautiful to see so many amazing chefs making such great food, to have good music, to see beautiful people dressed up beautifully. It’s a wonderful time,” Blain-Cruz said.
Johnson, who has as much humility as he does talent, thanked people for supporting him. He also encouraged Black people to support each other.
“Without the food, I wouldn’t be anything I am today,” Johnson said. “When you see Black people doing something that you consider dope, go support them. It’s very important that we support each other because without each other, we won’t be anything.”
PHOTOS: 2024 Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by Capital One featuring ‘The Cookout’ hosted by JJ Johnson and Angela Yee, presented by Stella Artois. / Credit: World Red Eye.
Loving the progress being made indeed. Thanks to all who continue to advocate for us to be US behind the scenes.