Black culinary talent took center stage Saturday at Eden Rock Miami Beach during Chef JJ Johnson’s annual event, The Cookout, part of the South Beach Wine & Food Festival.
Guests sampled dishes from 12 Miami chefs, with offerings ranging from vegan and vegetarian fare to seafood and meat. This year’s event also featured a performance by Grammy-nominated rapper Fat Joe.
Johnson, chef and founder of the New York restaurant FieldTrip, said the event is designed to spotlight Black chefs and businesses in South Florida.
“I want people to leave supporting Black businesses in their community,” Johnson said. “We’re celebrating Black excellence by bringing some of the best chefs in Miami together, representing the culture.”
Participating chefs included Hugh Sinclair of Chef Irie, Wayne Sharpe of JRK! Miami and Aamir Taylor of Italian Vice. Johnson selected each chef’s featured dish after tasting multiple options, choosing what he considered their strongest offering to ensure variety for guests.
“At most food events, people show up with the same dishes,” Johnson said. “I want people to experience everything — vegan, vegetarian, meat, seafood. That range is part of why The Cookout is successful.”
Johnson has hosted The Cookout at the festival since 2021, building it into a signature celebration of live-fire cooking and the flavors of the African diaspora. He said the event also aims to elevate chefs of color in a competitive industry.
“The food world is a hard space for everyone, especially for chefs of color,” Johnson said. “You train to master the craft, but you also want to cook the food that reflects where you come from. We’re just trying to find our way.”
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