Well-Seasoned Chef Dinner: Deborah VanTrece

From the venue:

Learn as Chef Deborah VanTrece from Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours prepares a four-part menu with wines to enhance the flavors of seasonal and local produce in the Edible Garden Outdoor Kitchen.
Registration opens to the public on April 7 via the Outdoor Kitchen phone line. Registrations are processed in the order they are received.
Please note: Circles Members receive early registration access in March, and these popular dinners often sell out during that period. For dinners already sold out by April 7, you may join the waitlist at the link below. To learn more about becoming a Circles Member, visit atlantabg.org/join.
Schedule: Select Tuesdays, April – October, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Fee: $150 per person ($840 any six dinners)
Registration: Call 404-876-5859 ext. 2559
Join the Waitlist
See the Full Schedule
About Chef Deborah VanTrece

Chef Deborah VanTrece is at the forefront of the culinary world, and has spent the last 30 years shaping the way we experience soul food through her innovative approach to “modern, global soul food.” In 2024, she expanded her influence with two major milestones: she debuted as the lead chef at the Centurion Lounge at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and she premiered her television show, Global Soul Kitchen, on the FYI Network.
At the Centurion Lounge, Chef VanTrece delivers an elevated dining experience for travelers with her signature globally inspired soul food menu. The lounge, the first of its kind in Atlanta, showcases her ability to bring comfort and sophistication to an international audience. On Global Soul Kitchen, she invites viewers into her creative process, exploring the cultural and historical connections behind her dishes and celebrating the universality of soul food across the globe.
Her flagship restaurant, Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours, continues to redefine Southern cuisine, earning a place in the 2023 and 2024 Michelin Guide. Michelin praises Chef VanTrece as a “driving force behind the celebration of Southern cuisine,” highlighting her inventive flavors and commitment to nurturing the next generation of diverse chefs. Twisted Soul is a cornerstone of the VanTrece Hospitality Group, which also includes Oreatha’s at The Point, a concept inspired by comforting dishes passed down by mothers worldwide, and The Catering Company by VanTrece, serving high-profile clients like Mercedes-Benz of Buckhead and the Grammy Awards.
Chef VanTrece’s journey began in 1994 when she graduated as valedictorian from the Art Institute’s culinary program. She quickly rose to prominence, serving as Executive Chef during the Centennial Olympics in Atlanta, where she catered to foreign dignitaries and international executives. Her ability to blend global flavors with soulful cooking set her apart and laid the foundation for her culinary philosophy.
In 1998, she opened Edible Art, a restaurant and catering business that became an East Atlanta institution and helped establish the neighborhood as a cultural hub. By 2014, she launched Twisted Soul, earning critical acclaim from the Cooking Channel’s Late Nite Eats and Genius Kitchen’s Carnivorous, and being named one of the “Best New Restaurants in Atlanta” by The Georgia Voice. Her work has also earned her recognition from Zagat as one of the “Most Badass Female Chefs in the U.S.” and features in The New York Times, Bon Appetit, Food & Wine, and Garden & Gun.
A champion for diversity, inclusion, and sustainability, Chef VanTrece has showcased her talents at the James Beard House and received the Atlanta Business League’s Super Tuesday Conference Award for Creative Style. She mentors young chefs, promotes sustainable farming, and uses her platform to celebrate the contributions of the African Diaspora to American cuisine.
As a best-selling author of The Twisted Soul Cookbook: Modern Soul Food with Global Flavors, Chef VanTrece continues to elevate the soul food tradition. She is currently working on her next book, further solidifying her place as a culinary innovator and storyteller.
Chef Deborah VanTrece’s philosophy is rooted in the belief that food is a universal language, capable of breaking down barriers and bringing people together. Through her restaurants, television series, and community initiatives, she continues to inspire with her bold vision, redefining what it means to feed the soul.