Seabird and Cheeni are hosting dinners with Southern Smoke Foundation to benefit Western North Carolina hospitality workers.
“I’m honored to team up with Preeti Waas from Cheeni to raise funds for our peers in the hospitality industry—a cause that’s never been more important to both of us than it is right now. Funds from these dinners are specifically earmarked to benefit our industry peers in Western North Carolina, in the wake of Hurricane Helene,” said Seabird’s Chef/Owner Dean Neff, who was recognized by the James Beard Foundation as an “Outstanding Chef” Finalist this year.
Neff will welcome JBF “Best Chef Southeast” semifinalist nominee Preeti Waas for a multi-course collaborative family-style dinner at Seabird on Tuesday, October 15th.
On Wednesday, November 20th, Neff will travel to Durham for a reciprocal dinner at Cheeni. “I can’t think of a better time to collaborate with Preeti, and bring our love for Wilmington’s coast—and the fishers and farmers who make it so special—to the table alongside her incredibly inspired Indian cuisine,” said Neff.
“We are always looking for ways to provide more for our staff regarding resources, or healthcare. As an independent restaurant with limited resources, that is not always possible. Southern Smoke Foundation fills a critical void in our industry, and by doing so they unite us into a community that can provide for each other. Our contribution at this time is in the form of these collaborative, fundraising dinners, which we hope to grow with the support of guests,” explained Waas. “Cooking with a chef of Dean’s caliber and talent allows me to stretch my knowledge, and collaborate with one of the best in the business.”
The dinners will also feature a unique dessert auction, spotlighting some of the area’s beloved pastry chefs and bakers, including Seabird’s own pastry chef Birdie Rojas and Pie Slayer in Wilmington.
Tickets are $150. Tickets for October 15th and November 20th are now live.
October 15th at Seabird in Wilmington: Purchase tickets for October 15th. (A $25 per person deposit is required to cover labor costs. $125 is due at the dinner, which will go directly to SSF.)
November 20th at Cheeni in Durham: Purchase tickets for November 20th on RESY.
Southern Smoke Foundation is a nonprofit founded and powered by current and past F+B workers to support hospitality industry workers in crisis nationwide by providing emergency relief funding, and address everything from mental health needs to paying medical bills. Learn more about Southern Smoke Foundation and additional ways you can support this national foundation here.
Dean Neff is the owner and chef of Wilmington, North Carolina’s Seabird—the sustainable seafood restaurant and oyster bar devoted to celebrating North Carolina’s coast. A James Beard Foundation “Outstanding Chef” Finalist and “Best Chef Southeast” nominee, Neff opened Seabird in Spring 2021 as his first solo venture with wife Lydia Clopton. At Seabird, Neff offers “Seabirdie” oysters farmed by Holdfast Oyster Co. exclusively for Seabird, and changes the menu daily based on back door deliveries from coastal fisher, farmers and foragers. Eater calls it “Essential” and named it the “Beach Restaurant of the Year.” Reader’s Digest, Hemispheres, The Local Palate and Garden & Gun praise it as one of THE reasons to visit Wilmington today; the Wall Street Journal and BuzzFeed’s “Worth It” have celebrated Seabird’s locally focused seafood tower and overall commitment to sustainable seafood. Neff is an outspoken champion of North Carolina’s Oyster Trail, Cape Fear River Watch, and a regional council member of the NC Food Bank. Follow @ChefDeanNeff and @SeabirdNC and visit Seabird to reserve.
Chef Preeti Waas is a twice-nominated James Beard Semifinalist, the owner and executive chef of Cheeni, and a home cook. Becoming a mother inspired her to reconnect with her Indian heritage through recreating dishes from her childhood home; years later, she’s working alongside her daughters at a bustling, regionally-focused Indian restaurant in Durham, NC. To Preeti, community is everything. Her culinary endeavors have provided her with a greater sense of community than she ever imagined having. Now, Preeti views food as a means to explore her identity, and her ever-evolving role as an immigrant, mother, business owner, chef, and community member. She is forever fueled by her love of cooking good, simple food, and the joy of feeding others. Follow @PreetiWaas and @CheeniDurham and visit Cheeni to reserve.
