As recently as a few years ago, people regarded marijuana as a dangerous “gateway drug.” Today, the stigma has subsided and it is being recognized for its healing properties, and even being implemented in chef-driven, multi-course meals.
“Elevations” is an educational culinary experience dreamed up by chefs Derek Upton and Jordan Savell. The intimate cannabis-infused dining experience allows guests to microdose, or ingest small doses at a time, and control their portions.
“Cannabis-infused foods are the wave of the future. There is still a stigma around smoking, so a lot of people would prefer to consume cannabis in another way,” Texas-based chef Savell says. “With it not being legal recreationally in Texas, I’m trying to be ahead of the curve. That way when it is legal, I will already have a knowledge base to work with.” Savell understands the health benefits of cannabis as she is nearly three years sober from alcohol and cocaine and uses cannabis to help curve the need for pharmaceutical medication throughout her recovery.
Upton has competed on Netflix’s Cooked with Cannabis and Food Network’s Chopped 420 chef competitions. “I want people to know that there is a world of cannabis out there that isn’t reefer madness, isn’t about getting high but rather about the wellness of cannabis, the education is the difference,” he says. “It separates stoner culture and who I am and that is cannabis culture.”
The six-course dinner will include matcha pound cake with candied almonds and dark chocolate and sweet potato gnocchi with fermented honey.
The event will be held on August 21 from 7:30-10 p.m. at an undisclosed location that will be revealed upon ticket purchase. Tickets can be purchased here.
