New Orleans, LA – Dillard University is excited to announce Chef Benjamin “BJ” Dennis as the university’s Chef in Residence for the Ray Charles Program in African American Material Culture, supported by a generous fellowship from the Mellon Foundation. Chef Dennis will lead a cooking demonstration on Thursday, October 10, 2024, where he will showcase his Gullah Geechee cuisine, providing a unique culinary experience for students, faculty, and the community.
Born and raised in Charleston, South Carolina, Chef BJ Dennis is renowned for infusing the rich flavors and cultural heritage of the Lowcountry into his dishes. His culinary style pays homage to the Gullah Geechee heritage, a culture formed by the enslaved West and Central Africans along the coastal regions of South Carolina and Georgia. This distinct approach allows Chef Dennis to bring a fresh interpretation to traditional southern cooking.
Chef Dennis’s culinary journey is deeply rooted in the lessons of his ancestors and the wisdom imparted by his grandparents about eating from the land. After studying for four years in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, he further honed his skills, blending these techniques with a focus on in-season, locally sourced vegetables and seafood to create vibrant dishes that highlight the best of the region.
His recent travels to Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti, Barbados, Dominica, U.S. Virgin Islands, Angola, Bahamas, Benin, Togo, Senegal, Gambia, and Cameroon have enriched his culinary perspective, allowing him to connect the diverse people and cultures of the African diaspora through food. Chef Dennis has gained widespread recognition for his culinary prowess, appearing in Netflix’s award-winning series “High on the Hog” and “Chef’s Table,” as well as numerous prominent newspaper and magazine features.
“We are thrilled to have Chef BJ Dennis join us as the Chef in Residence for the Ray Charles Program,” said Zella Palmer, Chair, Ray Charles Program. “His deep appreciation for Gullah Geechee cuisine and dedication to preserving and sharing this vital aspect of our cultural heritage will enrich our campus community and beyond.”
RSVP for Chef BJ Dennis’s upcoming cooking demonstration >>
About the Ray Charles Program in African American Material Culture
The mission of the Dillard University Ray Charles Program in African American Material Culture is to research, document, disseminate, preserve, and celebrate African American culture and foodways in the South. New Orleans sits at the historical and cultural intersection of diverse groups with distinct and recognizable pasts. This program aims to understand how African, Caribbean, European, and American cultures coalesced to create a culture that is uniquely African American. The Ray Charles Program takes a deeper look at how African American culture is portrayed and taught in an effort to not only preserve that culture, but allow our students to take ownership of it as well. For more information visit the Ray Charles Program in African American Material Culture webpage >>
About Dillard University
Dillard University is a historically Black institution that cultivates leaders who live ethically, think and communicate precisely, and act courageously to make the world a better place. Located in New Orleans, Dillard is a private faith-based liberal arts university that offers 22 majors and two certificate programs. Ranked 5th on 2021 The New York Times Overall Mobility Index and 14th in 2022 by Academic Influence for Best Colleges and Universities by Academic Stewardship, Dillard’s call to future leaders is to Write Your Legacy. Find out more about Louisiana’s oldest HBCU by visiting www.dillard.edu.
