Detroit is getting a nationally spotlighted dinner built around three of its most recognizable culinary names. Freya will host the James Beard Foundation’s Taste America dinner on Wednesday, September 30, bringing together chefs Doug Hewitt, Joe Giacomino and John Vermiglio for an evening of collaborative cooking and wine.
The dinner is part of the James Beard Foundation’s 2026-27 Taste America series, which pairs local independent restaurants with chefs selected for the organization’s TasteTwenty program. According to the James Beard Foundation, Hewitt is a James Beard Award semifinalist and will serve as the host chef, while Giacomino and Vermiglio of Grey Ghost will collaborate on the multi-course meal.
The event begins at 6 p.m. at Freya, with tickets priced at $200 per person. Wine pairings are included, reservations must be made in advance, and guests must be at least 21 years old; tickets are on sale through the foundation.
Freya, Chartreuse And Grey Ghost Take The National Stage
The specific menu has not yet been released, though organizers say it will reflect the chefs’ signature styles and the character of Detroit’s restaurant scene. The Detroit News reports that Hewitt’s cooking is rooted in vibrant, locally sourced ingredients, while Giacomino and Vermiglio are known for warm Midwestern hospitality and thoughtful cooking.
The collaboration also lands during a milestone stretch for Detroit’s dining scene. Grey Ghost and Chartreuse Kitchen & Cocktails are both celebrating their 10th anniversaries, giving the September dinner a built-in reason to toast beyond the usual awards-season bragging rights.
What Detroit Diners Can Expect
Taste America dinners are designed to spotlight independent restaurants while giving diners a chance to meet the chefs behind the food. For Freya, the event offers a high-profile homecoming for Hewitt, whose work at Freya and Chartreuse helped earn him a place in the foundation’s national ones-to-watch class; the TasteTwenty lineup lists him as Detroit’s representative.
