Gastronomic delights were the order of the day at SFS’s third annual celebration of culinary-minded alums.

Take nearly 100 alumni, parents, former faculty, and friends, mix in a gorgeous Sunday morning and an unbelievable amount of amazing food, and you have a recipe for a highly successful Taste of Sidwell Friends (no baking time required!). Now in its third year, this interactive (and delicious) event highlights parents and former students who have made their mark on the culinary world. 

“Taste of Sidwell Friends is an incredible showcase of alumni who have pursued the culinary arts while [bringing] awareness of their delicious creations to the School community,” explains Neville Waters ’75, a member of the DC Regional Club Committee that sponsored the event.

Returning presenter Linda McKittrick ’82 lives in Sonora, Mexico, where she keeps bees and grows a variety of interesting plants, including heirloom chiltepin peppers, which made a special appearance at the event. Having shared her work from afar last year, she was excited to be able to attend in person. “I had a blast at Taste of Sidwell Friends,” says Linda. “It embodied the idea of ‘letting our lives speak.’ While we [each] got to speak about our particular food expertise, we also got to listen and inquire and learn! But more than that, I experienced an energy that—in just two short hours—grew larger than the sum of all of us, that felt downright inspiring. Seeing old faces and friends was fun, and I even made a new friend [fellow presenter Katherine Wilson ’92], who I know I will see down the road, though we live in different countries.”

Nina Santiago ’98, a fellow committee member, adds, “I love the format of this event. It allows attendees to interact with participants, sample their work, and learn [about] restaurants and businesses we can support that are staffed and owned by alums and parents. Plus, it’s family-friendly!”

All participants are listed below. Alumni and parents from around the country were invited to present their work; those who could not come in person sent updates, recipes, and samples in their stead. Photos and informational posters from the event are now online.
 

Are you a chef, caterer, food critic, winemaker, cookbook author, farmer, or otherwise involved in the culinary world? Let us know! Email alumni@sidwell.edu if you are interested in participating in future Taste of Sidwell Friends events.

Josh Childs ’84: Trina’s Starlite Lounge, Parlor Sports, Audubon, and The Paddle Inn (Newburyport, MA). 

Spencer Darman-Allen ’04: Metropolitan Hospitality Group (Washington, DC). 

Andy Gable ’02: Hop and Wine Beverage (Sterling, VA)

Ben Jordan ’97: The Airedale (Washington, DC)

Ralph Lee ’00: Mindful Restaurants (Washington, DC)

Johnisha Matthews Levi ’95: A Taste of African Heritage (Boston, MA). 

Linda McKittrick ’82: Farmer and bee keeper (Tucson, AZ, and Sonora, Mexico)

Craig McNamara ’68: Farmer and activist (Winters, CA). 

Meriwether Godsey: Dining Services provider at Sidwell Friends

Mark Michael P’14, ’16, and ’20: Occasions Caterers (Washington, DC)

Joni Miller ’06: Cowbell Kitchen (Washington, DC). 

Emily Paster ’92: Blogger and cookbook author (Chicago, IL). 

Susan Povich ’81: Red Hook Lobster Pound (Washington, DC). 

Lucas Robinson ’06: EMM Group Inc. (New York, NY).

Anna Spiegel ’02: Washingtonian Magazine (Washington, DC).  

Bettina Stern P’11, ’14, and ’18: Chaia (Washington, DC)

Will Van Heuvelen ’05 and Zoe Abram ’06: Wheelhouse Farm Truck (Pioneer Valley, MA).