Bite of Bénin Five Course Dinner – A Cultural and Culinary Journey
February 13, 2025 @ 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
$185.00 – $305.00
Chef Adé
Photography by Nancy Sidelinger Herring
Screenshot 2024-01-25 at 3.57.36 PM
Screenshot 2024-01-22 at 6.42.13 PM
Screenshot 2024-01-22 at 6.42.57 PM
“It is not only empowering to represent heritage and identity through food—it has the power to heal our generational trauma…”
In collaboration with Ashley Christensen Restaurants:
Embark on an unforgettable evening with the 2023 North Carolina Chef of the Year, Adé Carrena, as she invites you to a fully immersive journey celebrating the vibrant intersection of West African and Southern U.S. cuisines.
The evening begins with a traditional Béninese hand-washing ceremony, honoring the rich cultural heritage of Chef Adé’s homeland. From there, savor in a thoughtfully curated 5-course tasting menu, each dish a tribute to cultural reclamation, cultural exchange, and the contributions of local farms. Expertly paired wines accompany each course, setting the stage for meaningful conversations.
Adding depth to the experience, every course is introduced with a segment from Chef Adé’s award-winning documentary, Bite of Bénin, offering a powerful narrative of heritage, identity, and culinary artistry.
About Chef Adé
Adé Carrena is a chef and storyteller who specializes in Neo-West African cuisine.
She was the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association’s 2023 Chef of the Year and the 2023 People’s Choice award recipient for her first film, Bite of Bénin, at Beyond: The Cary Film Festival. Her mission is to bridge cultural gaps, reimagine West African food, and create safe spaces for important conversations that inspire healing across the African Diaspora.
Adé has spent the last 8 years curating culinary experiences highlighting Black foodways while supporting local Black and Indigenous farmers. She is the founder and owner of iLéWA Foods, an innovative CPG Brand that aims to build more equitable futures by creating economic opportunity to empower women producers in West Africa as agents within global markets.
Chef Adé's Journey through Bite of Bénin
Adopted at the age of ten from her homeland of Bénin, West Africa, and raised in Connecticut, Chef Adé Carrena travels back home on a journey to reclaim her identity through food and to represent what was taken from her across the Diaspora. But how does one define home?
There lies in everyone a deeply rooted connection to home, interwoven into the fabric of our being and impossible to sever. For Chef Adé, home is a place she is continually drawn toward. In this beautiful, and at times painful, story, Adé journeys back to her roots to understand her African heritage and reclaim her identity through food and the Béninese women who hold deep significance in her life.
She discovers that food is not solely about sustenance; it is intrinsically tied to our identity. It represents culture, history, and, most importantly, nourishes the soul. Representing heritage and identity through food is not only empowering—it holds the transformative power to heal generational trauma.
Shared Experiences: Words From Our Guests
Tonight’s experience was wonderful. I love the poetry and how it relates to mother earth, American culture: our African heritage. This experience made me want to discover more about myself, heritage, food and how it brings us all together.
Chef Ade’s story was so moving yet inspiring. I love how food has helped her heal and grow. The meal was an amazing experience. The flavors were exciting yet familiar. I can’t wait to explore more of her culinary delight.
This experience reminded me how much I love being a multicultural black girl – how much I love food! This was beautiful and I can’t wait for the next one!!! I am reclaiming adventure and newness!
Tonight is a reminder that a journey is ongoing, worth the heat, exhaustion and uncertainty.
The worst pain I could ever feel, has already happened. I may have openness in my wounds to breathe, Thank you Adé.
Adé — what an incredibly thoughtful, moving, rapturous, and delicious experience. Really it felt like an honor to be there, to see you express yourself, to be so vulnerable, to see you lead the kitchen, to see the ties between your words and the plate. What you are doing is truly unique in SO many ways.
A heartfelt thank you is graciously extended to Ashley Christensen Restaurants for taking a vested interest in the mission of this experience and providing the beautiful space of Bridge Club in sponsorship.
AC Restaurants is the local organization behind many of Raleigh’s favorite spots, including downtown highlights such as Beasley’s Chicken + Honey, Poole’s Diner, and Fox Liqour Bar. Bridge Club, our destination, is an elegant social gathering space and event venue located above the lauded Death & Taxes restaurant, nestled on the 2nd and 3rd floors of a beautiful historic bank building in the heart of downtown.
Ticket Information
Multiple pricing options are available for those who wish to provide additional support for intersectional and cross-cultural culinary experiences like this one. All tickets include the full dinner experience.
Any purchases above the base price play a vital role in advancing the mission of this event and, most importantly, in creating a sustainable opportunity to welcome a diverse range of voices to the table. We deeply appreciate your generosity and support! The ticket options are as follows, each with options for a 5:00pm or 7:00pm seating (subject to availability):
A Seat at the Table – $185
● Includes a seat at the table
Supporter Ticket $305
● Includes a seat at the table
● Plus an assorted iLéWA Foods Spice Box featuring flavors from the dinner
Interested in becoming a sponsor? A Sponsor Ticket provides the opportunity to support four community members from the artistic and creative community who deserve recognition, allowing us to bring diverse voices to the table. The cost of a Sponsor Ticket is $1,000. For more information or to become a sponsor, please contact us at support@peoplefirsttourism.com.
Dietary Information
The menu is carefully crafted to preserve the authenticity of its recipes and the culinary traditions from which they originate. As such, this dinner will not accommodate substitutions.
*Please note that some dishes may contain peanuts.
Photos by Stacey Sprenz unless otherwise credited
“It is not only empowering to represent heritage and identity through food—it has the power to heal our generational trauma…”
In collaboration with Ashley Christensen Restaurants:
Embark on an unforgettable evening with the 2023 North Carolina Chef of the Year, Adé Carrena, as she invites you to a fully immersive journey celebrating the vibrant intersection of West African and Southern U.S. cuisines.
The evening begins with a traditional Béninese hand-washing ceremony, honoring the rich cultural heritage of Chef Adé’s homeland.
From there, savor in a thoughtfully curated 5-course tasting menu, each dish a tribute to cultural reclamation, cultural exchange, and the contributions of local farms. Expertly paired wines accompany each course, setting the stage for meaningful conversations.
Adding depth to the experience, every course is introduced with a segment from Chef Adé’s award-winning documentary, Bite of Bénin, offering a powerful narrative of heritage, identity, and culinary artistry.
This event is more than a dinner—it’s a celebration of community and storytelling. Together we’ll explore ways to inspire healing across the African Diaspora and Indigenous communities, foster equity, and redefine love and belonging for ourselves and those we cherish. Join us for an evening that nourishes the soul as much as the palate.
Chef Adé
Photography by Nancy Sidelinger Herring
Screenshot 2024-01-25 at 3.57.36 PM
Screenshot 2024-01-22 at 6.42.13 PM
Screenshot 2024-01-22 at 6.42.57 PM
Adé Carrena is a chef and storyteller who specializes in Neo-West African cuisine.
She was the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association’s 2023 Chef of the Year and the 2023 People’s Choice award recipient for her first film, Bite of Bénin, at Beyond: The Cary Film Festival.
Her mission is to bridge cultural gaps, reimagine West African food, and create safe spaces for important conversations that inspire healing across the African Diaspora.
Adé has spent the last 8 years curating culinary experiences highlighting Black foodways while supporting local Black and Indigenous farmers. She is the founder and owner of iLéWA Foods, an innovative CPG Brand that aims to build more equitable futures by creating economic opportunity to empower women producers in West Africa as agents within global markets.
Chef Adé's Journey through Bite of Bénin
Adopted at the age of ten from her homeland of Bénin, West Africa, and raised in Connecticut, Chef Adé Carrena travels back home on a journey to reclaim her identity through food and to represent what was taken from her across the Diaspora. But how does one define home?
There lies in everyone a deeply rooted connection to home, interwoven into the fabric of our being and impossible to sever. For Chef Adé, home is a place she is continually drawn toward. In this beautiful, and at times painful, story, Adé journeys back to her roots to understand her African heritage and reclaim her identity through food and the Béninese women who hold deep significance in her life.
She discovers that food is not solely about sustenance; it is intrinsically tied to our identity. It represents culture, history, and, most importantly, nourishes the soul. Representing heritage and identity through food is not only empowering—it holds the transformative power to heal generational trauma.
Shared Experiences: Words From Our Guests
Tonight’s experience was wonderful. I love the poetry and how it relates to mother earth, American culture: our African heritage. This experience made me want to discover more about myself, heritage, food and how it brings us all together.
Chef Ade’s story was so moving yet inspiring. I love how food has helped her heal and grow. The meal was an amazing experience. The flavors were exciting yet familiar. I can’t wait to explore more of her culinary delight.
This experience reminded me how much I love being a multicultural black girl – how much I love food! This was beautiful and I can’t wait for the next one!!! I am reclaiming adventure and newness!
Tonight is a reminder that a journey is ongoing, worth the heat, exhaustion and uncertainty.
The worst pain I could ever feel, has already happened. I may have openness in my wounds to breathe, Thank you Adé.
Adé — what an incredibly thoughtful, moving, rapturous, and delicious experience. Really it felt like an honor to be there, to see you express yourself, to be so vulnerable, to see you lead the kitchen, to see the ties between your words and the plate. What you are doing is truly unique in SO many ways.
A heartfelt thank you is graciously extended to Ashley Christensen Restaurants for taking a vested interest in the mission of this experience and providing the beautiful space of Bridge Club in sponsorship.
AC Restaurants is the local organization behind many of Raleigh’s favorite spots, including downtown highlights such as Beasley’s Chicken + Honey, Poole’s Diner, and Fox Liqour Bar.
Bridge Club, our destination, is an elegant social gathering space and event venue located above the lauded Death & Taxes restaurant, nestled on the 2nd and 3rd floors of a beautiful historic bank building in the heart of downtown.
Ticket Information
Multiple pricing options are available for those who wish to provide additional support for intersectional and cross-cultural culinary experiences like this one. All tickets include the full dinner experience.
Any purchases above the base price play a vital role in advancing the mission of this event and, most importantly, in creating a sustainable opportunity to welcome a diverse range of voices to the table. We deeply appreciate your generosity and support! The ticket options are as follows, each with options for a 5:00pm or 7:00pm seating (subject to availability):
A Seat at the Table – $185
● Includes a seat at the table
Supporter Ticket $305
● Includes a seat at the table
● Plus an assorted iLéWA Foods Spice Box featuring flavors from the dinner
Interested in becoming a sponsor? A Sponsor Ticket provides the opportunity to support four community members from the artistic and creative community who deserve recognition, allowing us to bring diverse voices to the table. The cost of a Sponsor Ticket is $1,000. For more information or to become a sponsor, please contact us at support@peoplefirsttourism.com.
Dietary Information
The menu is carefully crafted to preserve the authenticity of its recipes and the culinary traditions from which they originate. As such, this dinner will not accommodate substitutions.
*Please note that some dishes may contain peanuts.
Photos by Stacey Sprenz unless otherwise credited
