Setting the Table for Something New

Launching The Authentic Table: Where chefs and guests meet beyond the plate.

Over the past decade, I’ve been fortunate to travel the world, sitting down to some of the most extraordinary dinners I could have ever imagined. From hidden street-side grills in Istanbul to Michelin-starred tables in Rome, I’ve shared unforgettable meals in places where food is more than flavor…it’s identity, memory, and culture served on a plate.

But alongside those experiences, I always carried an idea: What if there was a dinner series where the chef wasn’t just someone working behind the scenes, but actually sat down at the table, sharing stories and heritage with the people eating their food?

Think about it. If you’ve ever been to a chef’s dinner or pop-up, you know the moment, the chef finally emerges from the kitchen. Guests’ eyes light up. People want to connect, to ask questions, to say thank you. But the reality is, the chef is usually exhausted, service isn’t over, and that deeper exchange never really has the chance to happen.

I’ve always believed chefs deserve more agency in how their work is experienced. They’re not just cooking to fill a plate, they’re shaping culture, feeding us in ways both literal and spiritual. Chefs have power, the power to teach us about food and even authenticity.

Food is not just pleasure; it’s survival. Every chef and purveyor provides us with the most essential thing we need to live: nourishment. And yet, too often, their voices remain in the background.

That’s why I’m so excited to launch The Authentic Table — a new dinner series from AuthenticFood.com. Each dinner is an invitation to slow down, sit together, and experience food in its fullest form: taste, story, and conversation. Unlike any other dinner series, Chefs won’t just serve; they’ll guide. They’ll share the histories, people, and places that shaped their cooking. Guests won’t just eat; they’ll connect.

And there’s something deeply meaningful about beginning this journey in Jacksonville, the city where I was born. Our inaugural event will take place on September 18, 2025 at Prati Italia, with Chef Kenny Gilbert leading the way sitting with you at the table. Joining him but in the kitchen is a chef who is not only a two-time James Beard nominee, but also someone whose restaurants I grew up going to. Their food shaped my early dining experiences and helped define my love for restaurants and food culture. To have both of these chefs at the table for the very first Authentic Table feels like a dream come true for me, rooted in both personal history and the future of food storytelling.

This is more than a dinner. It’s a new way of experiencing food, one where chefs and guests meet eye-to-eye, plate-to-plate, story-to-story.

I can’t wait to share this journey with you.

Seats are limited…join us for the very first Authentic Table, and let’s make history together.

Reserve your spot HERE

Can’t make it to the first dinner?

Don’t worry…The Authentic Table is just getting started. This is the inaugural event, but the series will continue with future dinners that celebrate chefs and food purveyors across the country and internationally. If you’d like to stay in the loop and be the first to know about upcoming events, Sign Up for updates and join our growing community of diners who want to connect more deeply with the people behind the food.

Hope to see you soon at The Authentic Table

xo,
Janna

Photo: Christina Block