Feast of Reason Dinner

In collaboration with Monticello, Eastwood Farm and Winery presents Feast of Reason at its new production facility, the Virginia Wine Collective in Charlottesville, Virginia. This will be an immersive, family-style dinner featuring Emmy-award winning food historian, Deb Freeman and James Beard nominee Chef Leah Branch of The Roosevelt. Wines from the Monticello Wine Trail will be paired throughout, helping tell a story of land, agriculture, and community.

This is a dinner designed to invite conversation and discuss questions that shape our civic life. Gathering around the table to share food and ideas has long been a powerful tool for strengthening community. The dinners that Jefferson hosted at Monticello and at the White House were known for remarkable food and conversation. Inspired by this timeless tradition and the extraordinary legacy of enslaved chefs such as Edith Hern Fossett and James and Peter Hemings, Feast of Reason creates space for curiosity, listening, and meaningful conversation.

Leah Branch is a Virginia native and James Beard Foundation Semifinalist for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic (2026). A graduate of Johnson & Wales University, Leah brings over 20 years of culinary experience, ranging from catering and baking to executive chef leadership. Recognized as a Richmond Dining All-Star and one of the city’s Top 40 Under 40, her work at The Roosevelt reflects a deep commitment to Southern cuisine and a thoughtful exploration of regional foodways, with features in Garden & Gun, Eater, and the Cooking Channel.

Deb Freeman is an Emmy Award–winning documentarian, writer, and leading voice on Black foodways. As the host of Finding Edna Lewis and the award-winning podcast Setting the Table, Deb brings a powerful perspective on the intersection of race, culture, and food, guiding the evening’s conversation through history.

Seating is limited for this one-night event.

Co-Sponsors:
Thomas Jefferson's Monticello
Getting Word African American History Department

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Host or Publisher Eastwood Farm and Winery