Topsail Restaurant to Host Friends of James Beard Dinner

Beach Shop & Grill of Topsail Beach will host a Friends of James Beard benefit dinner in support of the James Beard Foundation and its Good Food for Good programs on Sept. 28.

An Evening in Coastal North Carolina aims to celebrate the local fishermen, farmers and flavors of the Carolina coast.

The event will feature a menu curated by Beach Shop & Grill’s owner, Cheryl Tysinger and executive chef Jim Foss. General manager Tristan Smayda will be the master of ceremonies, and bar manager Chad Hardacker plans to create signature cocktails for the event.

Foss has been with Beach Shop & Grill for nearly five years and previously worked in kitchens in New York and Philadelphia as well as overseas in Lebanon. It is his friendship with Isabella Wojick, the director of the Friends of James Beard program, that led to the connection with the esteemed foundation.

“We believe we are the first restaurant in the area to host a Friends of James Beard dinner,” Jim Foss said.

The foundation’s website states the following regarding the mission of the Good Food for Good program:

“We’ve taken our platform and spotlight and shifted the focus from pure gastronomy to public good. When global leaders and local policymakers have wrestled with important issues about food, we’ve brought chefs into those conversations to make sure the elements of food culture are not overlooked, and that gastronomy is a key element of solutions proposed at every level.”

Guests will enjoy a reception with champagne and hors d’oeuvres followed by a unique and elegant Southern-inspired, six-course food and wine pairing.

Foss said creating the menu for the event was simple because he knew he wanted to showcase the freshest local ingredients.

“It was an easy choice to stay as true to stay as true to Southeastern North Carolina as possible,” Foss said.

Pastry chef Gerald Hawkins Jr., known for his sweet-and-savory flavor combinations, will serve Cantaloupe Semifreddo and a Buttermilk Spice Cake topped with honey marshmallow crème, gochugaru (a Korean chili powder) and a country ham tuile to close out the evening.

Hawkins said he finds participating in events such as this valuable because they celebrate North Carolina’s traditions, community and culinary diversity from a local perspective.

“These events,” Foss said, “also allow me to exercise creativity in ways that go beyond the daily menus at Beach Shop & Grill.”

The full menu can be seen on the event reservation page. Tickets are $110 per person and funds from this event will support the James Beard Foundation.

Beach Shop & Grill began 70 years ago as Warren’s Soda Shop and has evolved from a simple soda and hotdog stand to a fine-dining destination known for showcasing coastal cuisine. Under Tysinger’s leadership for nearly two decades, Beach Shop & Grill has garnered numerous accolades, including multiple Wine Spectator Awards for its wine program.