Chef Abra Berens of Three Oaks, Michigan’s, Granor Farm is bringing her award-winning talents to the University of Notre Dame on Wednesday and Thursday, May 1 and 2, in the “Visiting Chef” series presented by Experience Notre Dame.
Berens is a chef, former farmer, and writer. In 2023, Berens was a semifinalist in the James Beard Awards Best Chef: Great Lakes. Hailing from Michigan, Chef Berens knows the region well, and local ingredients are showcased within her creations.
"The style of food I cook is very ingredient driven,” says Berens. "In traditional restaurants, the chefs come up with this dish and they go and hunt down ingredients. For me, we write a new menu every week for our dining program at Granor Farm and the jumping off list is the harvest list from the farm itself.”
Chef Berens will spend time with students, faculty and staff, and local community members, in a series of events, including a lecture open to the public. The lecture will include topics like local sourcing, food waste, regenerative agriculture, and the impact consumers can have on the ecosystem.
"Chef Berens' passion for food and the farms that provide it knows no bounds. Gordon Food Service is proud to partner with the University to deliver such a dynamic opportunity for the students and faculty,” said Geoff Bonham, Customer Marketing Manager, Gordon Food Service.
“We are thrilled to welcome Chef Berens to the University, and we could not be more excited to have her as part of our Visiting Chefs series,” said Anne Griffith, vice president of University Enterprises and Events. “We’re looking forward to her spending time with our chefs, as well as cooking up something delicious for our students. We appreciate the support from Gordon Food Service to bring events like this to Notre Dame.”
On Wednesday, at 11:30 a.m. students and the Notre Dame campus community are invited to join Berens in the North Dining Hall for a cooking demonstration. This event is not open to the public, but is open to all with meal plans and members of the campus community with purchase of a meal at the door.
On Thursday, Berens will be interviewed on the topic of sustainability at the Carey Auditorium in Hesburgh Library. This event is open to the public.
Originally published by at experience.nd.edu on April 16, 2024.