This Saturday night you’ve got the opportunity to attend an exclusive fundraising farm dinner celebrating the power of community partnership and impact. Held outside at Oak & Ember Farms this multi-course culinary experience is designed to showcase the powerful impact of community partnerships.
The evening will feature a 7-course tasting menu with expertly curated wine pairings, prepared by some of the region’s most celebrated culinary talents:
• Chef Jorge Guzmán — Executive Chef and Partner at Sueño & Three Birds, . A three-time James Beard “Best Chef: Midwest” finalist (including a semi-finalist nod in 2022), Jorge brings influences from Yucatán and Mexico City, reimagined with inventive technique and deep-rooted authenticity . His cooking is deeply personal, inspired by memories of family meals—like frijol con puerco, the Yucatecan pork and bean stew he says “reminds me of home” .
• Chef Sarah Kirnon — A visionary West Indian chef (born in England, raised in Barbados) known for her Afro‑Caribbean cuisine and soulful culinary storytelling. She founded Miss Ollie’s in Oakland, CA—named after her grandmother—which became a beloved institution celebrated for its fried chicken, saltfish and ackee, and community roots . Kirnon’s food channels the Caribbean’s rich cultural diaspora, offering warm, soulful dishes deeply tied to family and heritage .
• Chef Zack Weiner — Co‑owner and co‑executive chef of Jollity and Koji Burger in Dayton’s Fire Blocks District. Zack honed his skills at Miami Valley CTC and The Midwest Culinary Institute, then trained under James Beard Award–winner Anne Kearney at Rue Dumaine in Dayton before launching the vibrant, seasonally driven Jollity—a name that reflects its spirit: “lively or cheerful activity or celebration” .
Together, these three chefs form a dynamic ensemble—each rooted in tradition yet pushing culinary boundaries—set to craft a memorable tasting menu that reflects their shared commitment to creativity, community, and connection.
Special Guest: Floyd Adams brings over 15 years of experience in the beverage industry, beginning his career in fine dining and advancing through roles as a bartender and sommelier at the esteemed restaurant Sardinia in Nashville, TN. His deep knowledge of wine and hospitality laid the foundation for a transition into the business side of the industry, where he developed expertise in both distribution and supply chain operations. This comprehensive understanding of the market led to his current role as National Sales Manager at Laureate Imports. A passionate advocate for wine education, Floyd is especially dedicated to highlighting lesser-known regions. Through his leadership, he plays a key role in introducing American audiences to the rich winemaking heritage of Slovenia.
Your participation directly furthers the Oak & Ember Foundation Foundation’s mission to build sustainable community partnerships that fuel meaningful, lasting impact—well beyond the evening itself.
Their flagship program is a weekly partnership with the Kettering Alternative Program (K.A.P.), a division of Fairmont High School. This program engages reluctant learners and at-risk students through nature and regenerative farming immersion. Students can also earn an Environmental Science Seal and a Local Community Service Seal, which can be applied towards graduation credits. In just a few short years, they have interacted with several hundred students through their pilot program with Fairmount High School.
Throughout the night, attendees will have multiple opportunities to contribute—whether through capital gifts, pledges, or conversations about becoming long-term strategic partners.
Oak & Ember Farms
2645 Olt Road
Dayton, OH 45417
Get tickets for Saturday, October 11 · 6 – 10pm, $250/person
Can’t make Saturday’s event, you can still support the Oak & Amber Foundation
with a donation, or volunteer at the farm. Also stay tuned for four events in 2026 including a Wine & Culture Festival being planned for Fall 2026.
On Thursday, October 27, Sueño is hosting a 5 course dinner with wine pairings in celebration of Día de lo Muertos. This is a 3-way collaboration with some massively talented people: Chef Jorge Guzman, Chef Brian Young, and Brian Ravitsky, founder and co-owner of Brazos Wine Imports.
Chef Jorge Guzmán himself has been the recipient of many accolades. He was a finalist and semi-finalist for James Beard “Best Chef Midwest” and earned Chef of the Year by local media as well as a Food & Wine Top 10 Restaurant of the Year. He has competed in Grand Cochon in Aspen and has been featured on Food Networks Diners, Drive in’s & Dives. Time magazine quoted “Minneapolis’ Jorge Guzmán is reinventing north country fare with the Yucatecan flavors of his childhood”. And most recently, New York Times 50 Most Exciting Restaurants 2022.
Chef Brian Young has been named “30 Under 30,” by Zagat, he has been featured on Food Network, at The James Beard House, and as a regular installment at Cochon 555 events around the United States as a participant and a judge. In 2019, Young was a contestant on ‘Bravo Top Chef’ Kentucky – Season 16. He is now the Executive Chef and Head Butcher at Dear Restaurant & Butchery in Cincinnati.
Brazos Wine Imports is owned and operated by Brian Ravitsky and Jon Chaplin. They import wine from thirteen different families located in some of the best sub-regions of Argentina and Chile. Brazos focuses on artisan, single vineyard, small production, estate grown, environmentally friendly wines. The wines represented share old world, terroir-centric styles which are unique and rare qualities to find in South America.