David and Tonya Thomas explained

David and Tonya Thomas are American chefs, restaurateurs, and food historians who work in Baltimore, Maryland. The couple has owned several restaurants.

David Thomas won a 2018 episode of the television food competition series Chopped and then won a 5-part "Champs Challenge" series in 2020.

Early life

David Thomas was born in Baltimore and raised in Jamaica, Queens, New York.[1] His grandmother is Blackfoot[2] and Thomas spent weekends at her 13-acre farm in Howard County, Maryland.[3]

Career

The Thomases opened Ida B.'s Table in 2017, naming it for activist and journalist Ida B. Wells, in a building that also houses The Real News Network,[4] [5] a non-profit that is an investor in the restaurant. The couple had originally planned a "reinvented, elevated" soul food restaurant, but after meeting with Jessica B. Harris, who asked them, "What makes you think soul food needs to be reinvented or elevated?", they refocussed on a concept of "African-American cuisine informed by its history." The restaurant is in downtown Baltimore on Holliday Street.[6] In early 2020 they left the restaurant.[7]

Previously they owned Herb & Soul, a farm-to-table restaurant in the Parkville neighborhood of Baltimore.[8]

In 2017 the couple were featured in an episode of Heritage Radio Network's A Hungry Society.[9] In 2018 David Thomas was featured at the James Beard Foundation's Juneteenth event.[10] [11]

In November of 2018 David Thomas won a Thanksgiving-themed episode of Chopped.[12] [13] [14] He prepared a butternut squash soup macaroni-and-cheese with spinach and liver, turkey breast with spoonbread, cracklings, and gravy, and a spoonbread pie with cranberry-and-port whipped cream. In February of 2020 Thomas won a "Champs Challenge" series, competing with 15 other chefs.[15]

In November of 2022 the couple opened H3eirloom Food Group, initially focussing on catering.[16] The couple produces a recurring dinner series.[17]

Philanthropy

The Thomases work with the American Institute of Wine and Food's Days of Taste program, which brings chefs into elementary schools.[18]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Olutosin . Dadisi . 2019-04-15 . David Thomas . 2019-11-10 . . en-US.
  2. Web site: Wolfson . Staci . 2018-02-02 . Chef David Thomas Is Not Here to 'Elevate' Soul Food . 2019-11-11 . . en.
  3. Web site: Izon . Juliet . July 2018 . Study Soul Food at Ida B's Table . 2019-11-11 . . en.
  4. Web site: Lagera . Leandro . February 12, 2018 . Chef David Thomas of Ida B's Table talks homage versus cultural appropriation and more . November 10, 2019 . Baltimore Beat.
  5. Web site: September 7, 2017 . The Philosophy behind Ida B's Table . 2019-11-11 . Foodservice Monthly.
  6. Web site: Zumer . Bryna . 2018-11-21 . Baltimore chef wins "Chopped" cooking show . 2019-11-11 . WBFF.
  7. Web site: Tkacik . Christina . 29 April 2020 . Chef David Thomas leaves Baltimore's modern soul food staple Ida B's Table . 2022-05-17 . . en.
  8. Web site: July 16, 2014 . Herb & Soul: A Culinary Triple Threat . 2019-11-11 . Foodservice Monthly.
  9. Web site: A Hungry Society Episode 13: Tonya and David Thomas of Ida B.'s Table . 2019-11-11 . . en-US.
  10. Web site: David Thomas . 2019-11-11 . . en.
  11. Web site: Hellerbach . Miki . 2023-06-19 . On and beyond Juneteenth, H3irloom Food Group uses history to elevate flavor . 2024-05-18 . . en.
  12. Web site: Williams . John-John . November 21, 2018 . Ida B's Table chef wins Food Network's 'Chopped' . 2019-11-11 . Baltimore Sun.
  13. Web site: Marion . Jane . 2019-02-05 . Chefs Dave Thomas and Johntay Bedingfield Chat About Winning Chopped . 2019-11-11 . . en.
  14. Web site: Williams . John-John . Ida B's Table chef to appear on Food Network's 'Chopped' Tuesday . 2019-11-11 . Chicago Tribune.
  15. Web site: 2020-02-19 . Alum finishes third among 'Chopped' champions . 2020-04-26 . . en-US.
  16. Web site: Yeager . Amanda . 17 November 2020 . David and Tonya Thomas, formerly of Ida B's Table, launch H3irloom Food Group . 2022-05-17 . Baltimore Business Journal.
  17. Web site: John-John . Williams . 2023-11-10 . Baltimore's Black supper clubs lead the charge in welcoming, innovative dining . 2024-05-18 . . en.
  18. Web site: Good . Robin White . 2015-06-09 . Chef Works with Food Discovery Program to Educate School Kids . 2019-11-11 . . en-US.

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