Tiffani Faison has begun work for her Chef Takeover event at Choctaw Casino Pocola’s Seven Ponies, which will be Friday and Saturday at 5 and 7:30 p.m. She and other chefs were smoking pork belly on Thursday in preparation.
Faison, a four-time James Beard Foundation nominee for “Best Chef: Northeast” (2018-20, 2022) who has appeared on the Food Network’s “Tournament of Champions,” is familiar to Oklahoma. She lived eight years of her youth in Lawton while her father was stationed at Fort Sill.
“I’m excited to come down and cook for y’all. It’s a homecoming for me,” said Faison, who was born in Germany while her father was at that point in his military service.
Faison learned from her mother, who is from Georgia, and gained an appreciation for barbecue of this region. In all the places she lived while growing up, she found that cooking helped her feel at home and feel centered.
Faison is about creating a warm, inspired and loveable dining atmosphere. She has four restaurants in Boston, Sweet Cheeks Q (Texas style barbecue), Fool’s Errand (with a snack-forward menu), Dive Bar (featuring New England and southern seafood), Tenderoni Pizza (with old-school pizza and grinders) and Bubble Bath (pairing champagne with popcorn and hot dogs).
To her, it’s about “intention put into cooking.”
“I want something that’s soulful,” she said.
In her 23 years since finishing her time at the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts, Faison has steadied herself in what she is after as a chef, giving diners something fun.
“It’s kind of like making a song,” she said.
The evening will start with a cocktail that will set the tone. Then comes the four-course dinner — a salad, a chicken and spring vegetable croque monsieur (kind of like the French sandwich), followed by the main course of smoked pork and shrimp mojo with braised greens and black bean creme and, to finish, a chocolate silk pie.
Faison will talk about the menu, while her main job will be working with chefs on preparation.
“It’s going to move quickly. There’s a conviviality of shared experience,” she said, adding that there will be an opportunity to ask her questions.
Faison said that when she was growing up, there was a rule in her house: a person doesn’t have to like it, but has to try it. People will find new flavors on the plate and could truly love what they discover.
Tickets for the Chef Takeover are $125. Click here to see the page for the event and buy tickets.
Faison is the fourth to perform a Chef Takeover at Choctaw Casinos Pocola, following Jet Tila, Alex Guarnaschelli and Rocco DiSpirito.
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