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 edit
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 edit
The Thomases opened Ida B.'s Table in 2017, naming it for activist and journalist Ida B. Wells,[2] in a building that also houses The Real News Network,[4][5] a non-profit that is an investor in the restaurant.[3][1] 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."[2] 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][9]
In 2017 the couple were featured in an episode of Heritage Radio Network's A Hungry Society.[10] In 2018 David Thomas was featured at the James Beard Foundation's Juneteenth event.[11][12]
In November of 2018 David Thomas won a Thanksgiving-themed episode of Chopped.[13][14][15] 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.[6] In February of 2020 Thomas won a "Champs Challenge" series, competing with 15 other chefs.[16]
In November of 2022 the couple opened H3eirloom Food Group, initially focussing on catering.[17] The couple produces a recurring dinner series.[18]
Philanthropy edit
The Thomases work with the American Institute of Wine and Food's Days of Taste program, which brings chefs into elementary schools.[8]
References edit
- ^ a b Olutosin, Dadisi (2019-04-15). "David Thomas". Cuisine Noir Magazine. Retrieved 2019-11-10.
- ^ a b c Wolfson, Staci (2018-02-02). "Chef David Thomas Is Not Here to 'Elevate' Soul Food". Eater. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
- ^ a b Izon, Juliet (July 2018). "Study Soul Food at Ida B's Table". FSR Magazine. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
- ^ Lagera, Leandro (February 12, 2018). "Chef David Thomas of Ida B's Table talks homage versus cultural appropriation and more". Baltimore Beat. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
- ^ "The Philosophy behind Ida B's Table". Foodservice Monthly. September 7, 2017. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
- ^ a b Zumer, Bryna (2018-11-21). "Baltimore chef wins "Chopped" cooking show". WBFF. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
- ^ Tkacik, Christina (29 April 2020). "Chef David Thomas leaves Baltimore's modern soul food staple Ida B's Table". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2022-05-17.
- ^ a b Good, Robin White (2015-06-09). "Chef Works with Food Discovery Program to Educate School Kids". Black Enterprise. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
- ^ "Herb & Soul: A Culinary Triple Threat". Foodservice Monthly. July 16, 2014. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
- ^ "A Hungry Society | Episode 13: Tonya and David Thomas of Ida B.'s Table". Heritage Radio Network. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
- ^ "David Thomas". James Beard Foundation. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
- ^ Hellerbach, Miki (2023-06-19). "On and beyond Juneteenth, H3irloom Food Group uses history to elevate flavor". WYPR. Retrieved 2024-05-18.
- ^ Williams, John-John (November 21, 2018). "Ida B's Table chef wins Food Network's 'Chopped'". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
- ^ Marion, Jane (2019-02-05). "Chefs Dave Thomas and Johntay Bedingfield Chat About Winning Chopped". Baltimore. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
- ^ Williams, John-John. "Ida B's Table chef to appear on Food Network's 'Chopped' Tuesday". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
- ^ "Alum finishes third among 'Chopped' champions". PCToday. 2020-02-19. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
- ^ Yeager, Amanda (17 November 2020). "David and Tonya Thomas, formerly of Ida B's Table, launch H3irloom Food Group". Baltimore Business Journal. Retrieved 2022-05-17.
- ^ John-John, Williams (2023-11-10). "Baltimore's Black supper clubs lead the charge in welcoming, innovative dining". The Baltimore Banner. Retrieved 2024-05-18.