A James Beard-Approved Food Hall Is Coming To New York City
Those who are tuned in to their local food scene might know just how controversial food halls are. While the shared space can be helpful for rising chefs (and even established ones) to test new concepts, as explained by the Institute of Culinary Education, the halls often become centers of gentrification. They do, however, continue to be popular additions to dining scenes all over the world.
From the massive Eataly complex in Bologna, Italy, to the many food halls across the United States, from Miami to Los Angeles, the dining trend is far from slowing. But given the image issues that food halls and the James Beard Foundation have had over recent years, it might surprise you to learn that the nonprofit has partnered with food-hall veteran Jamestown and Google to open yet another food hall in New York City, at Pier 57 (via Eater). Though the chefs and vendors that will occupy the new space have not been announced yet, the hall is slated to open this fall.
This is what we know about the new NYC food hall so far
Though the vendors are still unknown to the public, the CEO of the James Beard Foundation Clare Reichenbach shared with Eater that the hall would reflect "the rich culinary and cultural diversity of New York City." The renowned foundation will undoubtedly look to its expansive network of chefs and culinary resources to help fill the 16,000-square-foot food hall.
Though the foundation has had a long history of minimal diversity, it is working toward a goal of equity by 2023, where 50% of the James Beard staff and board will be held by Black, Indigenous, and people of color. Further, the foundation will be keeping its reworked mission in mind for the new hall's vendors, in regards to both gender and racial representation.
It seems the foundation sees this as a new opportunity to interact with the culinary community more regularly than it has in the past, too. "It's just a great way to bring to life what the foundation stands for," Reichenbach told Eater. Apart from events like Sunday Supper at Chelsea Market, dinners hosted at the James Beard House, and even chef-oriented programs such as Chefs Boot Camp and the Women's Leadership Program, this new hall is a way for the foundation to become more accessible.
So New Yorkers and visitors alike can keep an eye on the latest developments as the food hall moves forward.