Jump to content

David and Tonya Thomas

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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]
  1. ^ a b Olutosin, Dadisi (2019-04-15). "David Thomas". Cuisine Noir Magazine. Retrieved 2019-11-10.
  2. ^ a b c Wolfson, Staci (2018-02-02). "Chef David Thomas Is Not Here to 'Elevate' Soul Food". Eater. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
  3. ^ a b Izon, Juliet (July 2018). "Study Soul Food at Ida B's Table". FSR Magazine. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ "The Philosophy behind Ida B's Table". Foodservice Monthly. September 7, 2017. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
  6. ^ a b Zumer, Bryna (2018-11-21). "Baltimore chef wins "Chopped" cooking show". WBFF. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ a b Good, Robin White (2015-06-09). "Chef Works with Food Discovery Program to Educate School Kids". Black Enterprise. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
  9. ^ "Herb & Soul: A Culinary Triple Threat". Foodservice Monthly. July 16, 2014. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
  10. ^ "A Hungry Society | Episode 13: Tonya and David Thomas of Ida B.'s Table". Heritage Radio Network. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
  11. ^ "David Thomas". James Beard Foundation. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
  12. ^ Hellerbach, Miki (2023-06-19). "On and beyond Juneteenth, H3irloom Food Group uses history to elevate flavor". WYPR. Retrieved 2024-05-18.
  13. ^ Williams, John-John (November 21, 2018). "Ida B's Table chef wins Food Network's 'Chopped'". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
  14. ^ Marion, Jane (2019-02-05). "Chefs Dave Thomas and Johntay Bedingfield Chat About Winning Chopped". Baltimore. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
  15. ^ Williams, John-John. "Ida B's Table chef to appear on Food Network's 'Chopped' Tuesday". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
  16. ^ "Alum finishes third among 'Chopped' champions". PCToday. 2020-02-19. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ 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.