Somerset House are delighted to announce that The Future Plate, the House of African Caribbean cuisine, join its vibrant Residents community this July. As the UK’s largest collective of African and Caribbean chefs, all of whom are experts in luxury catering within the world of arts and culture, they are at the forefront of innovation within the culinary industry showcasing treasured cuisines on a global stage.
Housed in a 148 square foot high-tech kitchen in Somerset House’s New Wing, this will be the first permanent home for the business. Founded in 2021 by Julian George, a specialist working at the intersection of TV, food and publishing for over 15 years, The Future Plate expertly display how cuisine and culture intersect. Amplifying the visibility and work of thirty-five pioneering Black chefs, The Future Plate are driving increased diversity within the hospitality industry, with storytelling and heritage at its heart.
The Future Plate are an authority on African Caribbean cuisine made up of patrons, collaborators and its core group of chefs. Patrons of The Future Plate include industry leaders Chef Patron of Chishuru, Adejoké Bakare, the first Black female chef in the UK to win a Michelin Star and King Enekeme, Idris Elba’s personal chef. Collaborators include Chef Vickz, Stormzy’s personal chef and Exose Grant, MasterChef Finalist 2019. Core chefs at The Future Plate include Culinary Director Jason Howard, rising star Chef Opy, Development Chef Daniel Rampat and William Chilia, MasterChef Semi Finalist 2018. The Future Plate collective showcase the pinnacle of authentic African Caribbean cooking, made up of exceptional talent and culture carriers.
“It is an incredible honour to bring the idea of Future Plate to life and work with some of the best Black chefs of our time. My wish is to honour our unnamed culinary greats and together with today’s industry leaders, build a foundation for the next generation. Joining the amazing Residents community of creatives and innovators at Somerset House is a joy, and the perfect place for us to grow and continue to push boundaries” - Julian George, Founder of The Future Plate.
Joining a host of exciting and diverse Food and Beverage Residents on site at Somerset House, The Future Plate have catered the Meta dinner at Wimbledon, ‘An intimate conversation with Idris and Sabrina Elba’ for S’ABLE LABS, The Morgan Stanley Exhibition – The Missing Thread private view at Somerset House and are catering the upcoming YouTube Legacy Gala at KOKO Camden. With Chef King at the helm The Future Plate also catered The Nigerian pavilion at The Venice Biennale this year. They have catered for the likes of Zendaya, Tom Holland, Nick Kyrgios, Femi Koleoso and Kane Robinson (Kano).
Continuing to work closely with Westminster Kingsway, The Future Plate are furthering their mission to act as the standard bearer for African Caribbean cuisine and make it known for its quality, skill and execution. Somerset House are proud to support The Future Plate and its Resident community in their development, and nurture creative talent from those who are underrepresented and underserved in the cultural sector.
NOTES TO EDITORS
Press enquiries: press@somersethouse.org.uk
Images: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/88ei6mwlnare0v1wrihvf/AHHX_ekwWG-CO1AzT25HI5U?rlkey=gvvqelguigz5ktwg9625o9qqs&st=5xx2jc70&dl=0
Website: https://www.somersethouse.org.uk/residents/future-plate
Somerset House Facebook: www.facebook.com/SomersetHouse
Somerset House Twitter (X) & Instagram: @SomersetHouse
The Future Plate Website: https://www.thefutureplate.com/
The Future Plate Instagram: @the_futureplate
ABOUT SOMERSET HOUSE
Step Inside, Think Outside
As the home of cultural innovators, Somerset House is a site of origination, with a cultural programme offering alternative perspectives on the biggest issues of our time. We are a place of joy and discovery, where everyone is invited to Step Inside and Think Outside.
From our historic site in the heart of London, we work globally across art, creativity, business, and non-profit, nurturing new talent, methods and technologies. Our resident community of creative enterprises, arts organisations, artists and makers, makes us a centre of ideas, with most of our programme home-grown.
We sit at the meeting point of artistic and social innovation, bringing worlds and minds together to create surprising and often magical results. Our spirit of constant curiosity and counter perspective is integral to our history and key to our future.
ABOUT THE FUTURE PLATE
The Future Plate is a culinary village bringing together leading Black chefs of our time, culture carriers & makers of change. We are inspired by and draw from our culinary ancestors, paying homage to the traditional dishes but cooking and presenting them with the culinary verve we are fast becoming known for.
We cater & curate events for the world’s most famous brands, private individuals and corporates, creating memorable experiences with the sole purpose of sharing culture through food. Other services include consultancy, brand activations, menu development, brand partnerships & a management division which exists to amplify the visibility and work of trailblazing Black chefs who are overlooked.
Beyond our commercial endeavours we are building a creative hub for the exploration and development of African & Caribbean dishes, developing a scholarship for Black chefs, launching a conference and working closely with Julian George’s company Made By Humans to unearth our food stories and tell them before we lose them through film, books, exhibitions and podcasts.