Good Fortune's new dinner series puts spotlight on up-and-coming line cooks

The next event's already sold out—but keep an eye out for the next date in September.

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Any cooks worth their salt work the line, taking a tough, often underappreciated job to rise through the ranks and hone their craft. Good Fortune owner Corey Smale wants to showcase these individuals through a new dinner series.

Smale and Good Fortune chef Ryan McDonald recently kicked off the Young Blood Dinner Series, an event that puts young line cooks in St. Louis front-and-center to show off their culinary chops.

“The main chefs you know and admire in St. Louis have been around for a while, and people are starting to get excited about who’s coming up next," Smale says. "This series is a good opportunity to highlight that."

Smale credits McDonald with having the original idea, which spotlights local cooks who are making waves in the dining scene. McDonald works with the cooks to improve their skills and help them speak to each dish they serve at the event.

So far, the concept seems to be catching on. The first dinner took place Monday, July 16, and tickets for 28 seats sold out within a few hours, Smale says. Alex Herman, a line cook at Louie in DeMun, made a five-course meal including an appetizer and dessert. Tickets ran for $50 without drinks but including tax and gratuity.  

Smale and McDonald chose Herman for the first dinner based on an already-standing relationship. Herman helps out at Good Fortune on Tuesdays and Thursdays. “Alex works super hard and asks the right questions,” Smale says.

Smale recently put out an email to diners who attended the first event, thanking them and inviting them to purchase tickets for a second dinner via a link. Almost all those people bought tickets again and then shared a link, so the next event is already sold out. “It’s a weird bind but also a good problem to have,” Smale says.

That dinner will be on Monday, August 20, and will feature Jonathan Lorentezen, a line cook at Vicia. The event includes six courses for $60 or $90 with a wine pairing. Tax and gratuity are included.

The third event will take place in September, Smale says, and tickets will go on August 21st, one day after the second dinner. Smale will initially announce ticket sales to those who attended the first or second dinner and then will advertise it on social media.

“It’s a bummer that not everyone will be able to go to the second event, but there will be a third dinner," he says. "And stay tuned for more."

Editor's Note: This article has been updated from a previous version.

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