WELCOME TO THE TABLE
Stories Behind the Menu is a culinary journey with a celebratory heart.
Alongside a series of inspiring chefs, we invite you to experience the stories of diverse cultures — creating conversations that feed understanding and nourish communities.
Chef Diane Moua, Diane's Place
September 23rdt, 2026
Executive Chef & Owner, Diane’s Place
Chef Diane Moua has made a significant impact on the Minneapolis culinary scene by blending acclaimed pastry expertise with the comforting flavors of her Hmong heritage. She is the owner and executive chef of Diane’s Place, a Hmong American restaurant serving breakfast, brunch, and dinner that was named to North America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026. Under her leadership, the restaurant has also earned recognition as Food & Wine’s 2025 Restaurant of the Year, Bon Appétit's Best New Breakfast Restaurants, and The New York Times’ Best Restaurants, Best Bakeries, and Best Desserts in America.
VIP OPENING NIGHT, 2026 TWIN CITIES FILM FEST
October 15–24, 2026 - Save The Date!
Join us for the 4th year as Stories Behind the Menu, Executive Producer Chaz Sandifer curates the VIP opening night at the Twin Cities Film Festival on October 15th.
Join us October 15–24, 2026 as the Twin Cities Film Fest celebrates 17 years of storytelling, community, and cinematic excellence! This milestone year promises bold new voices, unforgettable screenings, and events that honor the filmmakers, audiences, and supporters who’ve shaped our journey
Chef Ed Porter, Terrell X and The Unknown Potential.
November 10th, 2026
Terrell X is a rapper, producer, and beatboxer formerly known as Carnage The Executioner, recognized as a pioneer of human beatboxing with looping and effects pedals. His sets mix original compositions, live improvisation, and real-time recreations of classic songs. Beyond performance, he teaches beatboxing and counsels youth, framing music as a tool for self-expression and personal growth.
Ed Porter is a celebrity chef, artist, and cultural storyteller who appeared on Food Network's Guy's Grocery Games / Tournament of Champions and Netflix's Pressure Cooker. Raised in the Bronx, he uses fine-dining expertise to address food insecurity and nutritional injustice in Black and Brown communities. His work includes the short documentary The Food That Fuels, the de zéro Experience, and the Taste Music Hear Food podcast, all advancing food sovereignty, support for local growers, and reclaiming ancestral food knowledge.
Victoria Tapeh, Get You A Vickey
December 10th, 2026
Victoria Tapeh, the visionary chef behind Get U A Vickey, draws inspiration from her roots in Monrovia, Liberia. Growing up, Vickey's mother, Cecily Hawa Hina, cooked and sold the most delicious dishes on the streets of Monrovia. From these humble beginnings, Vickey discovered her passion for cooking, which transformed from a childhood chore into a lifelong love.
Vickey's culinary journey began at the age of eight. What started as a necessity soon turned into a therapeutic and passionate exploration of flavors. Today, Vickey is known for her exceptional ability to create diverse, authentic dishes that tell a story with every bite.
CHAZ SANDIFER, FOUNDER
Chaz Sandifer presents Stories Behind the Menu— a culinary journey through food and storytelling.
By bringing people together to break bread and bridge the cultural divide among people of different backgrounds, races, and religions, Sandifer aims to promote racial health, equity and inclusion, and bring healing and restoration to communities and society as a whole. Utilizing the stories of how food traditions developed in various cultures creates a deeper understanding and respect for one another, allowing people to embrace our commonalities and celebrate our differences.
Donate
We’re excited to share that Stories Behind the Menu is now part of our nonprofit foundation — deepening our commitment to using food, culture, and storytelling as tools for healing, understanding, and belonging.
If the experience moved you, we invite you to continue walking alongside us. Your donation helps us:
- Bring more people to the table — across cultures, communities, and backgrounds
- Support local chefs and storytellers in sharing their truth
- Grow this movement of collective healing through food and conversation
Every dollar helps us extend the table — and the impact. Thank you for being a vital part of this journey.
With gratitude and hope, Chaz.
A shared experience celebrating culture and conversation.
Thank you to our sponsors:
past sponsors:
