We're thrilled to announce Chef Paula Endara, James Beard Foundation bootcamp alum, hailing from Lexington, Kentucky, for May's Kitchen Table Dinner! As the former Chef and Owner of Roots Restaurant in Jonesboro, AR,  and now, as Executive Chef of The Manchester Hotel in Lexington, KY, she champions sustainability, local sourcing, cultural exchange, and respect for product seasonality within the food industry.  

Paula stays close to her roots by passionately blending the flavors and spices of Ecuador, her home country, with the local seasonal produce.  She believes that "food is the engine of change" and that  food is not just nourishment; it's an opportunity to bridge gaps, evoke emotions, and create lasting memories.

Featured Chef -  James Beard Foundation bootcamp alum originally from Quito, Ecuador, chef and mixologist Paula Endara has been in the hospitality industry over the last 12 years—from specializing in avant-garde cuisine at the Basque Culinary Center, to working at a nomad restaurant concept in Quito in collaboration with Amazonian farmers, all the way to Arkansas where she founded Roots Restaurant. Throughout all of her endeavors, Paula has focused on identity, culture, and sustainability while advocating for community-centered sourcing and improving food systems. Now at The Manchester Hotel in Lexington, Kentucky, which features two restaurants: Granddam, Culturally Inspired Bluegrass Cuisine, and Lost Palm, the rooftop social drinking parlor that boasts an array of Latin-inspired small bites, Chef Paula continues her efforts to focus on those same values as the Executive Chef at the Gold Key Award winning upscale boutique hotel. 

About the Kitchen Table Dinner Series -  Born out of a desire to build a community around great food, Apple Seeds' Kitchen Table Dinner series is designed to recreate the feeling of gathering around a dear friend's table.  These dinners aim to bridge the gap often felt between the chef and diners in a typical dining environment, thereby creating a deeper connection to the food on the plate.  Through intentional procurement of local, seasonal ingredients, the transparent preparation of the meal, and storytelling by the chef, each plate is transformed from food into an unforgettable dining experience.

Event Details:

SUNDAY, MAY 19

6:00-7:00 PM

Cocktail hour: Enjoy watching meal preparations or mingle in the garden.

7:00-8:30 PM

Multi-course dinner: Your chef will create a fresh meal with elements from the garden.  Enjoy the food, farm & company.

The dinner takes place on the Teaching Farm.

Seating for this event will be located outdoors under the covered pavilion.  These dinners are rain or shine.  All Kitchen Table Dinner series events are fundraisers with limited seating; we cannot offer refunds for tickets purchased. 

Your participation in Apple Seeds' events supports our mission to inspire healthy living through garden-based education for students around Northwest Arkansas and beyond!