IN PERSON

RSVP

Schedule
5–6pm: Courtyard reception featuring light refreshments and curated small bites by Chef Martin Draluck
6–6:30pm: Lenart Auditorium, doors open to the public
6:30–7:30pm: Film screening in Lenart Auditorium
7:30–9pm: Conversation and Q&A

The Emmy Award–winning documentary Finding Edna Lewis celebrates the extraordinary life and legacy of Chef Edna Lewis and her transformative contributions to American cuisine, particularly Southern cooking. The film screening will be followed by a conversation with Deb Freeman, executive producer of the film, and Chef Martin Draluck of Black Pot Supper Club, who will also host a pre-screening tasting inspired by Edna Lewis’s culinary legacy. This program invites audiences to reflect on Lewis’s influence as a pioneering chef, author, and storyteller whose work continues to shape contemporary culinary narratives.

Martin Draluck, a Los Angeles native, traces his love of food to his grandfather’s restaurant, Dem Bones Bar-B-Q. After attending culinary school, he began his career as an assistant pastry chef at the Michelin-starred Joe’s Restaurant, where he met his mentor, Brian Dunsmoor. He later helped open and lead the kitchen at Hatchet Hall, departing in 2021 as chef de cuisine.

While at Hatchet Hall, Martin created Hemings & Hercules, a dinner series inspired by America’s first celebrity chefs, later featured on Netflix’s High on the Hog. He went on to found the Black Pot Supper Club, a storytelling-driven dining series exploring African American culinary history. His work spans dining, education, and cultural programming, with collaborators including Adrian Miller and Michael Twitty, and reflects a deep commitment to elevating the overlooked Black chefs and culinary pioneers who have shaped American cuisine.

Deb Freeman is a writer, podcast host, and cultural historian whose work centers on African American foodways and storytelling. She is the executive producer of Finding Edna Lewis, a documentary honoring the life and legacy of the celebrated chef and author.

She is the creator and host of the podcast Setting the Table, where she explores the intersections of food, history, and identity through conversations with chefs, scholars, and cultural workers. Through her media and public programming work, Freeman is committed to preserving and amplifying the stories of the people and traditions that have shaped American food.

This program is presented in partnership with the UCLA Rothman Family Institute for Food Studies and Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies

Screenshot