Saffron De Twah to Host James Beard Foundation’s First ‘Taste America’ Dinner in Detroit

The ticketed multi-course tasting will take place Oct. 9.
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Chef Omar Anani of Saffron De Twah and Kiki Louya of Detroit ϲͼ Academy will collaborate on the James Beard Foundation's first "Taste America" dinner in Detroit. // Photograph by Chuk Nowak, courtesy of James Beard Foundation/Saffron De Twah

Detroit’s own Omar Anani be hosting the James Beard Foundation’s first-ever Taste America dinner in Detroit on Oct. 9. The dinner will be a collaboration with Anani and Kiki Louya, executive director of , according to a Wednesday announcement.

The multi-course dinner will take place at Saffron De Twah, Anani’s halal modern Moroccan bistro on Detroit’s east side, and will include wine and cocktail pairings. Two seatings are planned for the evening at 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. It will be one of 18 stops currently planned around the country for the Taste America series.

The dinner comes on the heels of Anani being named part of the foundation’s 2024-2025 TasteTwenty class, a select group of chefs from around the country that the foundation considers “ones to watch” based on extraordinary culinary skills and leadership.

Anani is a three-time James Beard Award honoree, a 2021 Hour Detroiter, and has been widely recognized — not just for his cuisine, or winning ϲͼ Network’s Chopped: All American Showdown last year — but for heading charitable efforts over the years. Such feats have included founding the Saffron Community Kitchen, which provided free meals to essential workers and people in need during the pandemic. He also offers benefits to employees like healthcare and paid time off. Anani is planning a second brick-and-mortar restaurant in Detroit, set to open next year.

Entry for the Taste America Detroit dinner is $150/ticket and will take place at Saffron De Twah, located on in Detroit. Tickets can be found at

To keep up the latest local culinary happenings and more in metro Detroit, visit hourdetroit.com.