New Orleans chefs celebrate Juneteenth with Afro Freedom Afro Feast

• He'll be joined by Nina Compton of Compère Lapin and BABs, Charly Pierre of Haitian restaurant Fritai, Martha Wiggins of Café Reconcile, Prince Lobo of the Ethiopian restaurant Addis NOLA, Kaitlin Guerin of Lagniappe Bakehouse and Shonda Cross of Chef Shonda's Fine Dining To-Go.

Between the lines: Juneteenth, which became a federal holiday in 2021, is celebrated on June 19 every year.

• It recognizes the day the last enslaved people in Texas learned about their freedom under the Emancipation Proclamation in 1865.

The chefs will cook over open flames in honor of African American ancestors, a press release says.

• The event is an opportunity to "commemorate history, celebrate culinary artistry, and inspire our community while supporting the growth of our local youth," Mbaye said in the release.
• The bar will also be staffed by Turning Tables, a local hospitality nonprofit that trains Black and brown bartenders.

If you go: The event is June 16.

• Tickets are $200 and available online.

Go deeper:

• How to celebrate Juneteenth.
• Juneteenth is at risk of losing its meaning.