Accomplished SA Chef, Nicola Blaque, Celebrated on Her Recent Semifinalist Status for the James Beard Awards “Best Chef: Texas” Category
James Beard semifinalist Nicola Blaque, accomplished SA chef, will be celebrated on her nomination for “Best Chef: Texas” category Thursday, February 23. Come enjoy light bites and drinks from Mi Roti and Jerk Shack, spoken word from Poet Laureate Andrea “Vocab” Sanderson, music by DJ Donnie Dee, and remarks made at 6pm. And best of all this event is FREE to the pubic and happening at Food Hall at Bottling Department at the Historic Pearl.
WHAT:
Potluck Hospitality is excited to announce a celebratory event in honor of Chef Nicola Blaque for her 2023 James Beard Awards nomination in the “Best Chef: Texas” category on Thursday, February 23 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Food Hall at Bottling Department. Among Chef Nicola’s many accolades, such as being recognized by Eater for having the Best Fried Chicken in America in 2022 and named by GQ in Best New Restaurants in America in 2020, she is now San Antonio’s first black woman and Caribbean-American to be nominated in the prestigious “Best Chef: Texas” category, since the category’s inception in 2020.
The San Antonio community is invited to the celebratory event next week in Chef Nicola’s honor.
Poet Laureate Andrea “Vocab” Sanderson will open the celebration with a spoken poem for Chef Nicola, light bites and drinks will be served by Chef Nicola’s own Mi Roti and Jerk Shack, and DJ Donnie Dee will play a selection of blues, soul and hip hop throughout the evening. Remarks by the Potluck Hospitality team will be made at 6:00 p.m. to recognize Chef Nicola Blaque.
WHEN:
Thursday, February 23 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
*Remarks made at 6:00 p.m.
WHERE:
Food Hall at Bottling Department
312 Pearl Pkwy, Building 6, San Antonio, TX 78215
ABOUT CHEF NICOLA:
Lattoia Massey, known professionally as Chef Nicola Blaque, is a restaurateur and chef based in San Antonio, Texas. Chef Blaque is the executive chef and owner of the Jerk Shack, a Jamaican-inspired restaurant in San Antonio. The restaurant offers fare like jerk chicken, braised oxtail and quickly became a staple after opening in 2018. She also opened Mi Roti, a Caribbean concept at the popular Pearl district in San Antonio, in the summer of 2020 and has major plans for expansion throughout the city.
In addition to running successful concepts that have been recognized by GQ, Eater and more, Chef Blaque is an Army Veteran, a graduate of The Culinary Institute of America in San Antonio, a private chef for members in the NBA, a wife and a mom. Having been born and raised in Jamaica until she was five years old, Chef Blaque is passionate about introducing people to the flavors of the Caribbean. Though she’ll be the first to tell you that the dishes she’s serving up aren’t always traditional Jamaican dishes, she’s passionate about infusing those flavors into cuisine her patrons know and love.
