FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ancestral Nourishment & Food Tours at the 2024 International Festival of Arts & Ideas New Haven, CT
This year the International Festival of Arts & Ideas (IFAI), brings two pioneers in the agriculture and culinary world that understand this intricate relationship between humans, the land and the nourishment we have co-evolved with.
The May 21 screening of Farming While Black, featuring the celebrated Soul Fire Farm’s Leah Penniman, explores the challenges faced by Black farmers in the United States and the deep historical roots of African agrarianism.
Arts & Idea will also host James Beard awardee Sherry Pocknett, in an immersive Indigenous Cooking experience that shares the rich heritage of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe on June 25. Cheff Sherry is the first Indigenous woman to win the award and she will bring an interactive session with captivating stories and live cooking demonstration with her delicious corn cakes and cranberry strawberry chutney.
In addition, the Festival is excited to present a series of tours and events that aim to promote the multicultural culinary essence of Historical New Haven and the region at large with the Grand Avenue Gastronomy Tour on June 15, Empanada Making on June 18, a June 18 & 19 walkthrough of New Haven's pizza history in A Slice, a preview of a larger work by the Broken Umbrella Theater which include a pizza tasting; On June 20th for a heartwarming celebration of World Refugee Day, explore more traditional ways of nourishment and the stories of the people enmeshed with them, indulge in the rich flavors of Syrian, Afghan, and Senegalese cuisine at Sanctuary Kitchen as well as savor authentic Ethiopian dishes at Lalibella.
Foodies will have a delightful evening with Chef Avi at Gioia's on Wooster St on June 26, A Taste of Westville on June 27 and the Fair Haven Public Art and Food Tour exploring murals and installations while indulging in delicious tastes of Fair Haven Oyster's on June 29. “We will offer a seasonal menu that highlights our wood burning grill, but also we will be sharing our love for pasta and stories to make this event memorable,” said Avi Szapiro, Chef at Gioia Cafe & Bar.
ABOUT THE FOOD SERIE SPONSOR:
Arts & Ideas is grateful for the support of our Food Series sponsor, Tzedakah House, an insurance company specialized in the implementation and administration of employee benefit programs. The Agency also helps individuals and families with their personal insurance needs. Tzedakah is a biblical term meaning charitable giving and they give a percentage of its gross revenue away to non-profit organizations. Learn more at tzedakah-house.com.