Hey Detroiters, welcome back to Culture Canvas.
If you follow Detroit’s culinary scene, you’ve probably seen Jermond Booze or had one of his dishes. The Arkansas native has made the D his home, serving the community in multiple ventures: as an advanced program lead and youth mentor at Detroit Food Academy and co-founder of Vinyl Tasting, a monthly pop-up that features a meal centered around a theme from a classic R&B or hip-hop album. The popular dinner series was even noticed by Universal Music Group, which is partnering with Booze and co-founder Amber Beckem to film a TV pilot highlighting the series.
Last week, Booze announced on social media that he was one of 17 chefs accepted into the James Beard Foundation’s Chef Bootcamp for Policy and Change. The annual event brings together chefs from across the country for three days to network, engage in policy and media training, learn about culinary industry happenings and cook a dinner together. Other Michigan chefs include Bob Bennett from Zingerman’s Roadhouse and Shani Patterson from Blue Llama Jazz Club, both in Ann Arbor.
This year’s bootcamp takes place from Sept. 14-16 at the Glynwood Center for Regional Food and Farming in Cold Spring, New York. After applying three times, Booze said he’s excited to finally take part in the program.
I spoke with Booze about the ideas he wants to bring to the boot camp, including appearing on and winning the Food Network show “Chopped,” and what he has planned for the fall.
BridgeDetroit: The boot camp focuses on advocacy work and learning about issues and policies affecting the culinary industry. What are you looking forward to bringing to the table?
Booze: One of the things I always like to speak to people from backgrounds like myself often don’t know about all the different avenues in the hospitality and culinary industries outside of being a chef. So, I’m always speaking about how we can have a more diverse impact on a bunch of different spaces outside of hospitality. Equity is another big one. Even within Detroit, equity, as far as opportunity to access. We look at Detroit and its evolving landscape and I will be an advocate to make sure people of color always have an entryway into opportunities that present themselves, like when the NFL Draft is coming.
I’m just curious about what the future of hospitality and culinary looks like from different perspectives around the country. How do we ensure that we’re able to survive, since economy-wise, it doesn’t feel like we’re in a strong space. I’m really interested to hear the narratives and how they’re being unique, as far as approaching economic sustainability in this period. But then also, how do we plan on tackling the future?
BridgeDetroit: You’ve been busy lately! You appeared on the Food Network show “Chopped” last year and your episode premiered in July. How did you get the opportunity to be on the show?
Booze: There are two ways they kind of go about it. You can apply and then they also scout chefs. I got scouted. They (the show’s producers) saw what I did for Vinyl Tastings and they had found an article on Taste the Diaspora. A talent agent reached out to me on Instagram to tell me that they were interested in me being on the show. From there, they gave me a few shows to choose from. One was on food related to the diaspora, another show was like a hometown heroes type of episode, and then the last one was the “No Kids Hungry” episode, which is the one I’m featured on. That was based around youth and ensuring access to high-quality food, which is what I do already with DFA (Detroit Food Academy) to some extent. That was the one I was the most interested in. And I thought it would be cool if I was able to get my kids (from the academy) on the show somehow or give them a shout out.
BridgeDetroit: What went through your mind when you found out you won the competition and a $10,000 prize?
Booze: I was lost for words because it wasn’t what I was expecting. I came with the intention of showing up for my youth and being able to make them proud and I just didn’t want to get chopped the first round. I was able to speak to the judges one-on-one and I felt like it was the opportunity for me to really put Detroit on the map as far as the current food culture and community and just who we are as a people and community. Once I got past the shock, it was like, ‘Oh, take advantage of this moment and speak about how dynamic the food community is inside Detroit.’ Talk about the food revolution that’s going on inside the city, about all these different segues where we are becoming leaders and how we are growing. I went because I was inspired by my kids and I wanted to make them proud and make the city proud.
BridgeDetroit: What’s coming up next for you this fall?
Booze: For Vinyl Tasting, we have our event coming up Oct. 25 at BasBlue and we’re working on something with WDET-FM. Then Detroit Food Academy will be kicking off in October. We have some dinners coming up where we’ll be working with different restaurants in the city. Those will be dope and open to the public.
As always, have a great week!
-Micah
313 Scene
- BridgeDetroit Managing Editor Christine Ferretti and I wrote about the ongoing construction happening in Greektown and how businesses in the area are being affected by it. The Monroe Streetscape Transformation Project is years in the making and aims to reinvigorate Greektown with new event space and outdoor seating, wider sidewalks, single-lane traffic, granite pavers, lamps, trees and other amenities to ensure it stays relevant for future generations.
- After decades of winning over Detroit-area diners with Thai cuisine at her Bangkok 96 restaurant, acclaimed chef Genevieve Vang is expanding into what she calls “Detroit-style” sushi. To that end, Vang, an immigrant from Laos, has partnered with chef Jasmine White of Detroit to lead Sushi Lounge, a new sushi restaurant in Midtown. Sushi Lounge opened Sept. 6 in the Detroit Shipping Co. food hall, where Vang also runs the Bangkok 96 Street Food stall, an offshoot of her popular Bangkok 96 restaurant in Dearborn. (Detroit Metro Times)
- For the fifth year, Ford Motor Co. is teaming up with “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” this time to do an episode in the Motor City. “The Tonight Show” will pay its first-ever visit to Detroit on Sunday for a one-night-only special episode taped at the historic Detroit Opera House. The episode will air the following night on NBC and Sept. 16 on Peacock. (Detroit Free Press)
- Jazz singer and Detroit native Sheila Jordan died in her home in New York City on Aug. 11 at the age of 96, and is being remembered and celebrated by those she left behind in Detroit and beyond. (Detroit Free Press)
- A new exhibit by Mighty Real / Queer Detroit is exploring the history, artistry and culture of what it means to be Black and Queer. Curated by Patrick Burton and Wayne Northcross, “In the Life: Black Queerness—Looking Back, Moving Forward” opened Sept. 5 at the Carr Center, featuring photography, painting, drawing and multimedia work from more than a dozen artists. It is a satellite exhibition of their Detroit Queer Biennial, which will return in June 2026. (The Detroit News)
- Halsey is bringing “Badlands” back for a second night in Detroit. In addition to the New Jersey singer’s already announced Jan. 17 date at the Fillmore Detroit, she will also perform Jan. 18 at the Detroit theater. (The Detroit News)
What’s Going on in the D?
- BLKOUT Walls, created by Detroit artist Sydney G. James, returned for its third street festival Sept. 4 and will host multiple events throughout the week. Along with the live mural demonstrations in the North End, the week will also include panel discussions at Pensole Lewis College and a block party Saturday at Spirit Plaza.
- The Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation is hosting, “Built to Last,” a design showcase and auction 6-10 p.m. Thursday. The event will highlight a curation of nine innovative designers who will reimagine 30 workwear garments into never-seen-before creations. The pieces will then be auctioned off to the audience, with proceeds supporting Arts N Scraps and AGI Construction’s Detroit Future Ops Program. Tickets start at $25 on Eventbrite.
- Monthly series Fridays at the Station is back at Michigan Central from 5-10 p.m. This month will feature a special performance by Detroit singer Charity, joined by DJ BJ. Tickets are $15.
- Batch Brewing Company is hosting its 11th annual Oktoberfest Friday-Sunday at its Corktown headquarters, 1400 Porter St. Festivities will kick off at 5:30 p.m. Friday with a performance by band Die Dorfmusikanten and a steinholding beer competition at 7:30 p.m. Saturday’s lineup will include more live music with the Detroit Party Marching Band and German electronic trio Throbbinnoggin, and families are welcome to come Sunday for family day.
- Arts nonprofit The Vision Detroit is hosting its first Invision Arts and Culture Festival from 4-9 p.m. Saturday at Artist Village, 17336 Lahser. The free event will include a food and vendor market, live art and showcase and a concert of local artists from 7-9 p.m.
- FrankenFest returns to Historic Fort Wayne from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. The free event will feature more than 100 artists and vendors, aerial shows every hour and food trucks. For $5, attendees can go inside the Fort Wayne barracks for presentations and reptile adoptions.
- Thee Phantom & The Illharmonic Orchestra are putting their own spin on hip-hop, mixing hard beats with strings, horns, and piano. The orchestra will perform at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Fisher Theatre. Tickets begin at $56.