Host and Chef/Owner
James Beard Award Winner® 
Spike Gjerde
Woodberry Kitchen
Baltimore, MD

Restaurateur and Owner
Tony Foreman
Tony Foreman + Co.
Baltimore, MD

Chef/Co-Owner
James Beard Award Semifinalist® and Chef Bootcamp for Policy and Change® Alum
Carlos Raba
Clavel
Baltimore, MD

Chef/Owner
James Beard Award Semifinalist®
Jasmine Norton
The Urban Oyster
Baltimore, MD

Chef/Partner
Tae Strain
Burnt Hill Farm
Clarksburg, MD

Founder and Chocolatier
Jinji Fraser
Jinji Chocolate
Baltimore, MD

Executive Pastry Chef
Kaity Mitchell
La Jetée
Baltimore, MD

Join us for an unforgettable waterfront evening as the Living Classrooms Foundation and James Beard Foundation® trustee Jeff Cherry present an exclusive culinary experience kicking off Sail250 Maryland. Led by James Beard Award winner® Spike Gjerde and featuring an extraordinary line-up of the region’s most celebrated chefs, this multi-course, wine-paired dinner will showcase Baltimore’s rich culinary heritage, vibrant food community, and hospitality traditions. Hosted in support of the Living Classrooms Foundation’s mission to strengthen communities through hands-on education, workforce development, health and wellness, and community safety programs, the evening celebrates the power of food to bring people together while creating meaningful impact throughout the region.

Living Classrooms: An Intimate Culinary Experience to Kick Off Sail250 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.