The second edition of “Soul•Fête: A Culinary Immersion”—the only fundraiser for local nonprofit Stand Together Against Racism or ‘S.T.A.R.’— is coming to the Carriage Barn Arts Center 6 to 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 26 (tickets here).
We put some questions to S.T.A.R. founder Fatou Niang ahead of the big night.
Here’s our exchange.
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What is “Soul•Fête: A Culinary Immersion” and how does this event tie into the mission and work of S.T.A.R.?
Bourbon company Nineteen70Something owner Sean Dorantes pours for guests at the inaugural Soul Féte in 2023. Bryan Haeffele Photography
Fatou Niang: Soul•Fête invites guests to go beyond traditional soul food and experience the innovation and creativity of elevated Black cuisine. The evening will feature a tasty menu crafted by the acclaimed chef, Dr. Alexandria Wilhoite, showcasing dishes that celebrate the rich culinary heritage of the Black community while pushing the boundaries of modern cuisine with familiar ingredients.
Complementing the culinary journey, the event will also feature live music by the local, Bridgeport-based favorite band, The Misfits, whose vibrant sounds will provide the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable evening of celebration and connection. This is the band that plays at our annual Juneteenth celebrations and they definitely get people moving.
Guests enjoying themselves at Soul Féte in 2023. Bryan Haeffele Photography
As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based here in New Canaan, we have been serving our town and Lower Fairfield County since 2020 and our commitment to making a positive impact in our communities is only growing stronger. And what’s a better way to invite the community in than food.
We are always so grateful for the strong community support and growing engagement at our numerous free-to-attend events throughout the year. This is S.T.A.R’s only fundraising event and proceeds will help support our ongoing initiatives.
This is the second edition of Soul•Fête. What was it about the inaugural event that S.T.A.R. wanted to bring it back?
We held our first Soul•Fête event in 2023 at the tail end of Black Excellence Month also known as Black History Month. And that was more of a tasting food event. This year we are having a more formal setting because we believe that the best way to discover a cuisine is by taking time to appreciate it fully and seating and talking to each other is one of the best ways to foster understanding and impact change. We hope that during our conversation with Dr. Chef Wilhoite, our guests will have many questions about the dishes they have enjoyed. Our first edition was a tremendous success. Two years later, we wanted to bring it back and make it even better.
What’s new or different for the second EDITION Soul•Fête that’s coming up this month?
Like our inaugural event, this month’s Soul•Fête will dazzle our friends with vibrant flavors to soulful rhythms. What’s different is that this time around we’ll have a more formal format setting with a sit down dinner offering for total culinary immersion. This was a suggestion from our prior guests. They spoke. We listened. We also are featuring one chef this year vs. multiple chefs with the same focus idea. Otherwise, the location, music, vibe and the lively conversations will be the same!. We are pleased to have Nineteen70Something Bourbon once again offer a bourbon sampling that you will not want to miss. And yes, we will have Mac n’ Cheese. (Fun Fact: While Thomas Jefferson is often credited with bringing macaroni and cheese to the Americas, it was the work of his enslaved chef, James Hemings, that put the dish on the proverbial map and made it the truly celebrated dish of Americans to this day. For most Black people, macaroni and cheese is more than a savory delight, it represents overcoming trials, celebrating achievements and is a unifying factor for families across the race.~ Source: afro.com)
What would you tell someone who’s thinking of attending Soul•Fête but is on the fence?
Don’t hesitate, dress up—cocktail attire or the glam of your choice—and join us for a good time with good friends. From vibrant flavors to soulful rhythms, Soul•Fête promises to be a feast for the senses. Tickets are available on our website so book today and get those dancing shoes ready.
What else, if anything, would you like to say about S.T.A.R., Black Excellence Month or Soul•Fête?
As we always say, Black Excellence month is American History and like any ethnicity we should celebrate each other every day. See each other’s humanity every day. This month we are celebrating Blacks and their heritage, culture and history then we have other months to celebrate other ethnicities. One does not take away from the other but further our understanding of each other. The more we know the more we appreciate each other. That is the goal.
For Soul•Fête, We truly hope to see you but If you can’t make it this year, please consider a charitable donation to help fund our initiatives. We are a 99% volunteer organization with 100% of our funding for our numerous free events made possible by generous individual donations, business or corporate sponsorships and grants from local organizations. We are so grateful to our sponsors: Bankwell, Stewart’s Wine & Spirits, Nineteen70Something, CTbites, Mionetto Spritz and NewCanaanite.com, for helping to make this year’s event a reality.