A two-night collaborative tasting event previews Neutral Ground's new menu ahead of its Dodds Avenue opening and raises funds for Cocoa Cafe's South Chattanooga mission.
Neutral Ground and Cocoa Cafe are joining forces for a two-night event celebrating the shared threads between Louisiana's Afro-Creole cuisine and West African culinary tradition.
The West African Cultural Night & Fundraising Event will be held October 2 and October 3 at 7 p.m. at Cocoa Cafe. The event brings together Chef Kenyatta Ashford of Neutral Ground and Cocoa Cafe founder Raquetta Dotley for an evening of food, culture, and community.
Proceeds will support Cocoa Cafe's mission to build opportunity in South Chattanooga.
The evening also marks a first look at Neutral Ground's new menu ahead of the restaurant's upcoming grand opening on Dodds Avenue.
Guests will enjoy a five-course tasting menu crafted by Chef Kenyatta, paired with special drinks provided by Cocoa Cafe:
- Kale Salad with Roasted Pumpkin, Goat Cheese, Dill Vinaigrette, and Benne Seed Dukkah
- Louisiana Hand Pies — Filled with Braised Greens and Smoked Fish
- West African Red Red — Entree
- Nigerian Red Stew with Blackened Catfish — Entree
- Dessert: Japanese Sweet Potato Tart with Hibiscus Cream and Cocoa Nibs
Ashford said he was born and raised in New Orleans and knows he has African lineage. It’s this cultural blend from NOLA and his African roots that guides his culinary style.
“I’ve traveled to Africa four times to learn more about the food and culture of the places I visited—Ghana, Benin, Cameroon, and Senegal," Ashford said. "One dish on this menu, however, draws inspiration from a country I haven’t visited yet: Nigeria. The catfish with red stew brings together flavors and techniques I’ve worked with before, and the pairing felt natural. I knew it would fit well with the story we’re telling through this dinner.”
Dotley said Cocoa Café has been open for a month now and is doing well.
“The community has received it well,” she said. “The South Chattanooga community, St. Elmo, and those who are traveling through have served it well. Also, many of our employees live out in South Chattanooga, which has been helpful.”
She said the two-day event with Chef Ashford is the first of many.
“We're looking forward to the future to having a chef coming in to incubate with us,” she said. “Chef Ashford is the kickoff event and we're hoping to have more events similar to this one.”
Dotley said the chef will take over the kitchen while the staff of the café will provide the drinks.
“We're working on a specialty drink for the event,” Dotley said.
Ashford enjoys working with local non-profits and community endeavors and is partnering with the Howard School for this event.
“We’re partnering with the culinary arts program at The Howard School, building on work I’ve done in the past through the Four Courses initiative with Carmen Davis," he said. "We’ve hosted dinners featuring chefs from around the country and created opportunities for students to work alongside them. This dinner will give young people meaningful, hands-on experience preparing plates and serving guests in a live restaurant setting. Instead of simply putting food in a bag, they’ll learn how to plate each dish with care while practicing some of the finer skills of the culinary arts.”
Tickets are $85 with only 30 seats available each night. A ticket grants access to one night only, though both nights will feature the same menu and experience.
“We don't want it to be a fast-paced evening,” Ashford said. “We want it to be a relaxed evening. We want to be able to put food on plates and give the guests who are attending a nice presentation.”
Chef Ashford has been cooking since 2009.
“After graduating from culinary school, I began my professional culinary career," he said. "But before culinary school, I worked in kitchens here in Chattanooga to prepare myself for that next step. And before I became a chef, I was a teacher in Hamilton County.”
Now as an entrepreneur Ashford said he is ready for his next venture opening Neutral Grounds this fall.
“The food I want to focus on tells the broader story of the African diaspora," he said. "That includes New Orleans, Tennessee, Chattanooga, West Africa, the Caribbean, and other places shaped by the movement of African people and their descendants. Across generations, they influenced the ingredients, techniques, and food traditions of every place they called home. That connection is at the heart of the food we’re creating.”
About Neutral Ground
After the Culinary Institute of America and a James Beard Foundation scholarship, he went on to become a Food Network Chopped Champion, and his travels through West Africa deepened his understanding of the ingredients and traditions behind that heritage, shaping the Afro-Creole cuisine he cooks today. That vision became Neutral Ground, named for New Orleans' medians, which have long served as gathering places across neighborhoods and backgrounds, built on that same spirit of connection through food.
Neutral Ground opened as a pop-up on Juneteenth 2020 inside Proof Incubator & Bar in Chattanooga. Through catering, festivals, and community events, it built a loyal following drawn not only to the food, but also to its story, culture, and connection to the community. The restaurant is now preparing to open its first permanent home on Dodds Avenue.
About Cocoa Cafe
Cocoa Cafe grew out of The Net Resource Foundation's work and a larger vision for revitalization in South Chattanooga, turning a long-vacant space into a community hub centered on coffee, culture, community, and economic opportunity. Cocoa Cafe supports local entrepreneurs, creates workforce opportunities, and gives people another reason to experience and invest in South Chattanooga.
The West African Cultural Night & Fundraising
- October 2 and October 3 at 7 p.m.
- Cocoa Café
- 618 W 38 Street, Chattanooga, TN