Friends of James Beard Dinner

All tickets for the Friends of James Beard Dinner are sold out. Thank you for your support!

Join seven of Indianapolis’ best chefs for a fundraising dinner to support the next generation of chefs on October 4, 2024 from 5-7 PM in the historic Stutz Car Museum.

A portion of this event benefits James Beard Foundation, and their mission to champion a standard of Good Food for Good© anchored in talent, equity, and sustainability.

Meet the Chefs

Join us on Friday, October 4 for a reception-style dinner, enjoying savory bites and dessert from seven of Indy’s best chefs and bakers.

  • Abbi Merriss, Chef, has been dabbling in the culinary arts since 2001. Her career began at an eager, stubborn 18 years when she moved to Norfolk, Virginia.  While in Norfolk she began understanding the draw while working at The Ten Top and Cora Restaurant. Becoming enthralled with gaining more knowledge she moved back to Indianapolis in 2005. Under the mentorship of Greg Hardesty, her passion was only more escalated. 

    “I was 29 when we started Bluebeard”. 

      The five-time James Beard Awards semifinalist spent her 30s building the groundbreaking restaurant Bluebeard. She was a James Beard award semifinalist in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 and in February 2020 received her fifth nomination. Her restaurant, Bluebeard, was nominated for a Beard award for Best New Restaurant in America in 2012. She specializes in New American cuisine.

     Deciding to depart from her well known restaurant in 2024 for personal growth and exciting new adventures, she is currently assisting on building an inspiring new hot spot in Garfield Park, Parkside Public House. Also, creating her own independent brand.

  • It's commonly thought that you know you've found your life's calling if you'd do your job for free. Chef Steven J. Oakley personifies that idea. His career began at age 16 when he offered his services to a suburban Chicago restaurant for free. He was hired at that little restaurant outside of Chicago, The Cottage, and walked right into the big time. Working his way up, Oakley had risen to the position of head line-cook before leaving to attend The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY.

    He spent many weekends traveling to New York City to work in some of the most prestigious restaurants in the country, including The Park Avenue Café and Lutece - for free of course. After spending time in Scottsdale and Chicago, Benvenuti, a venerable Indianapolis eatery, called him away from the windy city for good. He spent a year there before joining forces with Something Different Restaurant in 1993, where he spent nine years receiving accolades including nominations for the prestigious James Beard Rising Star Chef's award.

    Now, as Chef/Proprietor of OAKLEYS bistro, Chef Oakley has created an unpretentious, neighborhood American bistro very different from the haute cuisine establishments of his previous experiences.

    Chef Oakley has achieved recognition from Bon Appétit, the American Culinary Federation, the Restaurant & Hospitality Association, and more. While Chef Oakley has been honored for the past several years as a semifinalist in the James Beard Foundation's Best Chefs in America Awards, Chef Oakley most cherishes the accolades from those who join him and his Team for lunch and dinner at OAKLEYS bistro.

  • Beginning with his first job as a dishwasher at a greasy spoon when he was just 12 years old, Chef Samir Mohammad has over 28 years’ experience working in all aspects of kitchens and restaurants. He grew up in the small town of Taos, New Mexico where farm-to-table was a lifestyle, not a trend. From there he served in the US Coast Guard whilst earning culinary degrees from Le Cordon Bleu and the Culinary Institute of America. He soon discovered his love for travel and exploring other cultures’ cuisines. This led to holding a Food & Beverage consulting position for Pegasus Lodges, which afforded him to travel to Samoa, Indonesia and Singapore. His formative years were spent in Denver, Colorado, where he earned the title of Best Rising Chef 2012, and where he met his wife, Rachel, who was ultimately the driving factor in the couple’s move to her home state of Indiana in January 2020. Chef Samir & Rachel have put down roots in Noblesville where they lead the team at 9th Street Bistro, an intimate 35-seat restaurant with a menu that changes monthly and is focused around hyperlocal produce and sourcing ingredients sustainably. After pivoting to offer ready-to-heat dishes during the early days of the Covid-19 Pandemic, the Bistro opened for dine-in service in September of 2021. Samir was named a Semifinalist for the James A. Beard Foundation’s Best Chef of the Great Lakes region in 2023, and the restaurant was listed in OpenTable’s Top 100 restaurants across the country in the same year. 9th Street Bistro has been included in Indianapolis Monthly's annual "25 Best Restaurants" in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

  • Chef Patrick Russ, Executive Chef at Newfields, has an impressive resume that includes an education at Le Cordon Bleu in Miami, FL and almost two decades in the restaurant industry rising through the ranks at world-class restaurants including Gia at the Eden Rock Miami and Next Restaurant in Chicago, IL. However, as a mid-western-er and father of two young children, Chef Patrick has a practical approach to serving up delightfully delicious food.

  • Inspired by global cuisine yet firmly grounded by strong Indiana roots, chef Alan Sternberg was a James Beard two-time Rising Star Chef of the Year Semifinalist in the 2016 & 2018 Restaurant and Chef Awards. With an eye for design and an application for local ingredients, Alan has become known for creative food that is as beautiful as it is delicious. His modern take on Midwestern cuisine has been featured in many publications throughout the country.

  • Zoë is a mom, baker, and human trying to survive this weird world. Working alongside her partner, Josh, at their restaurant and nourishing their two fetal collaborations consumes most of her time. Outside of that, Zoë likes to watch TikTok. Maybe she'll finish a book next year! 

  • Tinker Street Executive Chef Tyler Shortt has elevated the Indianapolis dining scene with a thoughtful and innovative culinary philosophy. His passion for local, sustainable ingredients fuels dishes that not only nourish the body but honor the environment. With over 11 years of industry experience, Chef Tyler brings a fresh perspective to classic recipes, infusing them with inventive flair and technical precision. His culinary journey includes working alongside some of the finest talents, from NYC’s iconic Eleven Madison Park to notable Indianapolis kitchens like Patachou under Chef Tyler Herald, and Tinker Street with Chef Braedon Kellner.

    What truly sets Chef Tyler apart is his visionary leadership. Rather than adopting the traditional image of a chef as a solitary creative force, he fosters collaboration in the kitchen, empowering his team to contribute to the menu’s evolution. Since taking the helm at Tinker Street in 2019, he has guided the team in creating menus that balance bold innovation with time-honored tradition, redefining modern dining with an ethos rooted in community and respect for both food and people.

Our Partners

  • Solely Wine

  • Hi & Mighty

  • Crossroad Vintners

  • Oakleys Bistro

  • Bluebeard

  • The Stutz

  • Pattern

Great Food for a Great Cause

Enjoy a reception-style dinner by the chefs behind some of Indy’s most notable restaurants, wines, cocktails, and mocktails, and join Epicurean Indy in raising money for the James Beard Foundation.

Friends of James Beard Dinner • Friday, October 4 • 5-7 PM • The Stutz Car Museum