Feeding Our Souls: The Essence of Black Joy
Minnesota Humanities Center

February 16, 2023

Engage in the cultural richness of food, music, and stories that define the essence of Black joy. Experience generations of family Creole recipes prepared by Chef Mateo Mackbee, Owner of Krewe Restaurant in St. Joseph, MN to soulful healthy roots and blackeye peas prepared by Chef Lachelle Cunningham of North Minneapolis. Special music will be provided by Twin Cities’ vocalist, Ginger Commodore.

Chef Mateo Mackbee is a multiple award-winning chef whose restaurant Krewe, located in St. Joseph, MN, was recently selected by Minneapolis Star Tribune as one of the 4 Best Restaurants worthy of traveling. Although raised in Minnesota, Mackbee’s childhood summers always included several hot steamy weeks in his mother’s hometown visiting relatives and experiencing Creole and New Orleans style food while learning to love its local foods, culture, music, and sense of community.

Chef Lachelle Cunningham is a dynamic force on the Twin Cities’ food scene and is known for cooking globally inspired comfort food that thwarts unhealthy stereotypes and fuses in global flavors. She is owner of Chelles’ Kitchen Catering, the founding Executive Chef of Breaking Bread Cafe in North Minneapolis. Her most recent creation is Healthy Roots Institute with a mission focused on healing and social justice through food education, culinary arts, and entrepreneurship.

Ginger Commodore is a Twin Cities’ vocalist, songwriter, and actress. She performs jazz, blues, rhythm and blues, contemporary, and gospel music with regular appearances at The Dakota Jazz Club and Crooners Supper Club. Her theater work includes Penumbra Theatre, Mixed Blood Theatre, Children’s Theatre Company, Minnesota Opera, The Capri Theater, and more. Recently she debuted as Musical Director for the musical “Memphis” at Bloomington Center for the Arts.

Registration is $10. Learn more and register here: https://www.mnhum.org/event/feeding-our-souls-black-joy/

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