Whimsical Chef Heads to NY

Private Social chef Najat Kaanache takes her knives to James Beard House

Dallas may not have the acumen to appreciate her food yet, but James Beard does. Najat Kaanache, former chef for the now-closed Private Social, will cook at the James Beard House on July 23.

Kaanache will prepare a six-course meal preceded by a trio of appetizers. She and her business partner, Charles Accivatti, will be joined by her Dallas team, including sous chef Matt Medling, chef de partie Rob Schofield, pastry chef Colin Zug-Moore and tournant apprentice Kelsie Melaas.

"With her keen eye for presentation and masterful ability to engage all the senses, Kaanache brings a playful twist to haute cuisine," reads the Beard House website.

"We were invited in May when we went up for the World Science Festival," Kaanache says. "They told us that we could pick whatever day we wanted. When I knew the date, I went back to my kitchen and told the chefs. For the past two months, each chef has been putting aside small savings for the airfare. They paid their own way. I had no idea what was happening with the restaurant, but I knew this would be an exciting opportunity."

When cooking at the Beard House, chef teams are usually required to find another kitchen for their preparation, but Kaanache's team gets the run of the house. "The Beard House is closed on Monday [July 22], so that gives us all day to prepare," she says.

The Beard House website is lavish in its praise of Kaanache, saying, that "it's no surprise that Dallas restaurant P|S became a culinary sensation after Najat Kaanache took the helm; the superstar chef had trained at Noma, Per Se, El Bullí, Alinea and the French Laundry. With her keen eye for presentation and masterful ability to engage all the senses, Kaanache brings a playful twist to haute cuisine."

The event is already sold out. Her menu is as follows:

Hors d’Oeuvre

Cured Basque Pyrenees Mountain salmon with house-made bagels and cream cheese
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Caprese > fried tiger prawns with Caprese salad eElements
Frida Goes to Fez > colorful roasted vegetables with Moroccan flavors

Dinner

Sensory Bill of Rights > 10 inalienable flavor sensations
The Turtle Pond Freezes Over > A Midsummer Night’s heirloom tomato gazpacho
Hobbit’s Halibut > seared halibut on the shire with Farmer Lee’s vegetable mousses
Edible Dalí > taste transmuted into art
It Takes a Party Fowl to Run Afoul of French Law > filet mignon and duck breast with duck confit bisteeya and duck liver mousse

Dessert

An Apple Walks into the Genius Bar > study of apple flavors and textures

unspecified

Coffee News

Italian brand Lavazza Coffee opens training facility in Dallas

Lavazza

Lavazza Coffee

A coffee brand from Italy has planted a stake in Dallas: Lavazza, founded in the northern Italian city of Turin in 1895, has opened a state-of-the-art training center in Dallas, at 1722 Routh St. #960, where it will serve as a hub for coffee enthusiasts throughout the Southwest.

Dallas is the newest outlet in Lavazza's coffee training network, joining locations in New York, Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles, West Chester Pennsylvania, and Toronto — part of their expansion across high-growth markets in the U.S., and its mission to elevate coffee culture globally. (They're also doling out endorsement dollars in commercials featuring Steve Carell and John Krasinski.)

The facility is equipped with espresso, brewing, and coffee innovation equipment, and will serve Lavazza partners, industry professionals, baristas, and distributors. They'll offer hands-on training, SCA certification, menu development, and emerging coffee trends.

Lavazza already partners with many respected hospitality groups and culinary destinations in Dallas including Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, Coury Hospitality Group, Al Biernat's Steakhouse, and Vandelay Hospitality.

In October 2025, Lavazza also began serving coffee on flights by Fort Worth-based American Airlines — further strengthening their connection to the North Texas market. The facility will enable Lavazza to provide closer, more consistent support to these partners and help elevate their coffee programs through continued training and collaboration.

Lavazza has been owned by the Lavazza family for four generations. Today they're one of the leading players on the global coffee scene, with a portfolio of top brands that lead their respective markets, such as Lavazza, Carte Noire, Merrild, and Kicking Horse.

In a statement, Lavazza North America president Hossam Ashraf says that "Dallas has an incredible energy and an ever evolving coffee scene," while Lavazza North America Marketing VP Daniele Foti says that Dallas is great, and we must concur.

"As one of the fastest growing hospitality and culinary markets in the country, Dallas represents a tremendous opportunity for Lavazza," Foti says. "Our investment in this new Training Center demonstrates our commitment to the region and to the partners who bring the Lavazza experience to life every day. Dallas is a city of innovation and high standards, and we are excited to deepen our roots here."

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