It’s early morning as we navigate the winding maze of Chelsea Market, coffees in hand. The nervous excitement is contagious, charged with the expectation of the day ahead. There’s a feeling of being small and, at the same time, anticipating something grand. The city dwarfs us—yes, Manhattan is slightly bigger than Birmingham—but to be here with clear purpose is what leads her path. She’s in search of flowers.
(Mason David Erwin/Contributed)
We come to a florist stall, which has just opened. Bouquets of roses alongside dried arrangements, vases, and trinkets. Kristen chooses the sunflowers—a representation of both joy and strength, as they constantly look for the light.
She has traveled hundreds of miles for this dinner, but still appears to be right at home. Kristen Hall is the chef behind La Fête, Birmingham’s Michelin Bib Gourmand-winning French bistro, and a James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef: South. Tonight, that recognition has brought her here to headline Platform’s Bastille Day dinner, where some of the country’s most celebrated culinary voices have displayed their talents. She seems to have nerves of steel, unshaken by a delayed flight and having to pack nearly one hundred pounds of ratatouille, carefully portioned and boxed to make its journey here. Now, all that’s left is the day ahead…