On Thursday, June 25th, I’m collaborating with Culinary Podcast Producer & Communal Chef Otis Gray for a ticketed James Hemings Homage Dinner in collaboration with Studio BUMI.
Otis will be executing a 3-to-4 course French-American menu and I’ll be wearing my TFG DRINKS! History hat to craft a classic yet custom colonial era ‘welcome punch’ (with and without ABV %) to kick off and quench the night.
Together we’ll tag-team on the savory, salty & sweet storytelling with real history in between courses. Space is extremely limited (20–26 seats total). WHEN | WHAT TIME | & WHERE:
Thursday, June 25
7:30 PM - 10:30 PM
Get Tickets
Context for this Historically-Informed Dinner Experience: In 1784, a teenager named James Hemings was taken to Paris by Thomas Jefferson — not as a guest, but as an enslaved person. He trained under the finest French chefs of the era, mastered classical technique, and returned to America as the first person trained as a French chef de cuisine on American soil. He cooked state dinners. He introduced crème brûlée, macaroni and cheese, ice cream, and whipped cream to the American table. He toiled and eventually negotiated his own freedom. And then, his name was erased.
This dinner is set against the backdrop of the 250th anniversary of American independence. A multi-course meal drawn from dishes Hemings cooked, techniques he mastered, and ingredients he brought home from France — hosted by Otis Gray, with Virginia Punch and a history talk by Tonya Hopkins of the James Hemings Society and The Food Griot Drinks! LLC
Just Dinner is Studio Bumi’s flagship dining experience, designed to make belonging possible by turning guests into hosts and gatherings into something that can be carried forward.
Each dinner follows a guided, repeatable format centered on shared food, thoughtful pacing, and intentional moments of connection. Originally inspired by an Indonesian hidang style of dining, dishes are served together for the table to enjoy, creating an atmosphere that feels generous, relaxed, and open by design.
Seating is arranged to encourage conversation, with shared tables and gentle prompts that invite you to participate at your own pace. Whether you arrive on your own or with friends, our ask is for you to settle in, and get immersed! At its heart, Just Dinner is an invitation to make eating together feel like the default again.” ~Otis Grayfor Studio Bumi
P.S. You can also BYOB!
About Studio Bumi
Studio Bumi is a food-experience studio on a mission to create the conditions for belonging, one table at a time. They design guided, repeatable dining experiences that make hosting feel approachable and shared. By building the structure, flow, and tools around each gathering, we help people move from being guests to becoming hosts themselves, allowing connections to extend beyond a single meal and into lasting communities. Communal dining is the first and clearest expression of this approach.
“Bumi,” meaning Earth in Indonesian, reflects our grounding in shared humanity and the belief that gathering around food remains one of the most natural ways to feel connected.
Learn more at www.studiobumi.space or Instagram
Re: Cancellations & Refunds
Bumi is a small team and each dinner is thoughtfully planned based on the number of guests.
For this reason, all sales are final and BUMI does not offer cancellations or refunds. If something comes up, you're welcome to either transfer your ticket to a friend or move it to a future dinner date (subject to availabilities), no later than 72 hours before the event—we’re happy to help coordinate either option.
If Just Dinner is canceled or rescheduled by Bumi guests will receive a full refund or a transfer option.
For transfers, email dining@studiobumi.space with the new attendee’s details.
Dietary Restrictions & Allergies
Please review the details here.
Menus are thoughtfully curated, and they do not accommodate substitutions. However, they do provide a detailed allergen list for each dish to help you make informed choices.
Since everything’s prepared in a shared kitchen, they cannot guarantee the absence of cross-contact with allergens. If you have a severe allergy, please let us know, and we will do our best to work something out.
To help them better understand any dietary concerns, please complete the dietary form during checkout.
Before You Join
By purchasing a ticket, you agree to the following:
Photography & Video Release. Photos and videos will be taken during the gathering for documentation and promotional purposes. By purchasing a ticket, you consent to being photographed and filmed, and allow Studio Bumi to use these materials across our website, social media, and other promotional channels.
Alcohol Consumption. If the event includes alcohol, please drink responsibly. You must be 21+ to consume alcoholic beverages.
Respecting the Space & Community. This is a shared space meant to foster connection. We ask all guests to show respect to fellow diners, staff and the space.
Location
595 Eastern Pkwy
Brooklyn, NY 11216, USA
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You’ve Got Lots of Great OPTIONS & CHOICES to get bigger portions of Tonya’s TFG (The Food Griot’s) “Applied Food & Drink History” intel:
🔋 Subscribe to my Substack , join my Patreon platform (Existing PATREON members, DM me there to redeem your perks!), and/or sign up for my periodic TFG newsletter…
In the meantime you can 👉🏿+ FIND MORE Culinary & Cocktail CALENDAR CONTENT HERE👈🏿