Our Story from the Table: Chef Terrell Manning
Fresh Herb Greens & Tomato Salad – Kachumbari-inspired with smoky charred green onion dressing
West African Dinner at 15th Street Farm
Last Friday, 15th Street Farm hosted a dinner unlike any other—a night where food, memory, and culture came together under the stars. Our very first event in the African Dinner Series, A West African Culinary Experience with Chef Terrell Manning, was more than just a meal. It was a shared celebration of tradition, healing, and connection.
15th Street Farm founder Emmanuel Roux brought in artifacts and personal stories from his time living in West Africa. Born in Tunisia and raised between North Africa and France, Emmanuel shared reflections on the traditions that shaped his relationship to food and culture throughout the region.
The Menu: A Taste of West Africa
Guests enjoyed a five-course farm-to-table dinner curated by Chef Terrell Manning. Each dish was rooted in cultural significance and prepared with ingredients harvested just steps from the kitchen:
● Fresh Herb Greens & Tomato Salad – Kachumbari-inspired with smoky charred green onion dressing
● Okro & Roasted Sweet Potato Salad – A vibrant celebration of West African produce
● Spiced Goat & Jollof Rice – A beloved, flavorful classic
● Surprise Course: Potbelly in Vegetable Stock – Created spontaneously using leftover vegetable scraps and fresh herbs from the farm, this warming soup brought the meal full circle and highlighted the sustainability and creativity that define Chef Terrell’s approach.
● Lamb Meatballs with Obe Ata Glaze – Served with garden arugula and broken bread
● Kokoti Mint Delight – A tropical, coconut-forward dessert with seasonal fruits
A Deeper Connection Through Cooking
While Chef Terrell is no stranger to high-volume cooking—serving meals for visiting teams like the Colorado Rockies and Pittsburgh Pirates the very same week—this dinner offered something entirely different: stillness and intention. Cooking for 60 instead of 600 gave him space to breathe and reconnect with the art of food.
“This dinner was zen,” he shared. “Being able to step outside, pick what I needed, and take my time with each dish brought me back to why I love what I do.”
The evening held even deeper meaning for Chef Terrell. Just hours before the dinner, hereceived heartbreaking news that his uncle—who was like a second father—had passed away. Preparing this meal became a way to honor his memory. Each plate was a quiet tribute, prepared with care, presence, and purpose. His favorite dish of the night? The charred green onion salad, inspired by a late-night visit to an African restaurant in Kentucky years ago—where that simple, smoky salad was the first thing to touch his palate. That salad was the first thing to hit his palate that night and left a lasting impression.
Chef Terrell’s love for cooking traces back to his childhood, when he first made scrambled eggs with his grandmother—who, at 87, still bosses him around in the kitchen today. That same love and intention could be tasted in every dish served that night.
What’s Next?
This was just the beginning. Our African Dinner Series will continue to explore the flavors and traditions of the continent, blending culture, community, and purpose through food.
We invite you to follow the journey, continue to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn for the next part of the African Dinner Series. Be part of this ongoing celebration of heritage, healing, and connection—one meal at a time.
To know more about the African Dinner Series please read here: Introducing the African Dinner Series at 15th Street Farm: A Journey Through Flavor, Culture, and Connection
