BY CHELLE KOSTER WALTON / Gulfshore Life

First it was various stints on the Food Network, including a victory over Bobby Flay with his tandoori chicken. Now Chef Asif Syed from 21 Spices by Chef Asif in East Naples is making headlines with an invitation from the James Beard House in New York to prepare a dinner for around 70 guests on Nov. 16.

Syed established a relationship with the James Beard Foundation through the NaplesNEXT event last March, where the Beard House curated a dinner and Syed served seafood curry from his restaurant’s progressive East Indian repertoire.

This invitation marks a new high in chef Asif’s career, “it is a dream come true to be able to cook at the prestigious James Beard Foundation. I am very grateful for this opportunity. Being one of only a few Indian chefs to cook at the James Beard House is an absolute honor. This is the result of our team’s hard work in the years since opening 21 Spices”.

Chefs are invited to cook at the James Beard House by the director of house programming based on multiple criteria like national or regional reputation, use of high quality, seasonal, and/or local ingredients i.e. The goal of this evaluation is to make sure that the showcase aligns with the Foundation’s mission to celebrate, nurture, and honor chefs and other leaders making America’s food culture more delicious, diverse, and sustainable.

“It’s our honor to showcase chef Asif at the historic James Beard House, a performance space for chefs to share their heritage and culinary philosophy, as well as a place to add their unique voice to the conversation around sustainability, access, and economics of our food system. As a Foundation, we are exploring the regionality of America’s cuisine and putting a spotlight on its proponents. Chef Asif’s cooking exemplifies modern interpretations of complex Indian dishes, shaped by Florida’s bounty. This has all the makings of a most delicious and memorable night!” states Director of House Programming Izabela W.

Chef Asif is expected to cook for 70 guests who can purchase their tickets through the James Beard Foundation’s website. Guests will receive a canape reception followed by a five-course tasting menu, all curated by Chef Asif and his team. People who would like to follow the event but cannot make it to New York can watch the live stream from the kitchen of the James Beard House (http://bit.ly/JamesBeardLiveStream). The general admission for the event is $180 per person and benefits the mission of the James Beard Foundation.