S2:E17 Chef Shennari Freeman I Soulful Vegan Vision

Making plant-based dishes fun and indulgent while honoring Southern foodways through the lens of her beloved Virginia childhood memories, Chef Shenarri Freeman, aka “Shenarri Greens,” is Executive Chef of Cadence, a plant-based restaurant with Southern soul in New York’s East Village. Chef Shenarri, a 2022 James Beard Award nominee - Emerging Chef, fully embraced veganism in 2017 as a means of putting her health first and taking control of her well-being. The result was a dramatic physical and mental transformation.

At Cadence, her Southern Fried Lasagna salutes the fact that this Italian dish is a staple in many Black households, including her family’s while growing up, as it is a shortcut to cooking during long work weeks. Chef Shenarri’s Palm Cakes are a love letter to the salmon cakes her mother served for breakfast, and her Smoked Grits are an affectionate nod to her grandmother, nicknamed the “Queen of Grits.” In fact, Chef Shenarri’s earliest memories are of sitting in her grandma’s lap and snapping pea pods while her grandma did her hair.

Cadence is part of Overthrow Hospitality, a mission-driven, plant-based restaurant and bar group founded by Ravi DeRossi, who is also Co-Founder of Death & Company, and a 2022 James Beard Award semifinalist for Outstanding Restaurateur. With its motto “Eat. Drink. Start a Revolution.,” it is reimagining drinking and dining in New York through inclusivity, sustainability and compassion.

Join host, Brad Johnson and Chef Shenarri as they discuss why this rising star adopted veganism and the health benefits. her views on plant-based meat substitutes like Beyond Meat and Impossible Burger, her determination when faced with new challenges, and Shenarri's career journey balancing her ethos with the compromises needed to helm a successful restaurant.

Photo Credit: Sen Floyd Productions

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