Format: A five-course seated dinner, complemented by snacks and dessert.

Featured Chefs

Host Executive Chef/Partner and James Beard Award Semifinalist®
Joseph VanWagner
Echelon Kitchen and Bar
Ann Arbor, MI

Executive Chef/Partner and James Beard Award Nominee®
Javier Bardauil
BARDA
Detroit, MI

For one night only, two Michigan kitchens come together over fire at Echelon, as executive chef Joseph VanWagner welcomes chef Javier Bardauil of BARDA for a collaborative dinner shaped by shared technique, global experience, and a deep respect for open-fire cooking. Bringing together two James Beard Award–recognized chefs, the evening will unfold as a seamless exchange between their culinary perspectives. The dinner will feature five courses plus snacks and dessert, with each chef contributing to a menu rooted in bold flavors and wood-fired precision.

The Echelon x Barda Collaborative Woodfire Dinner is part of the Friends of James Beard Benefit series; events hosted by generous people, businesses, and organizations outside of JBF that provide critical funding for our programs. Each event supports our mission to champion a standard of Good Food for Good® anchored in talent, equity, and sustainability.