My House Events Partner Series - 4
Toure Folkes of Turning Tables
We value all of the chefs, nonprofits, and partners that we work with and want YOU to know them better. Now more than ever, we feel like it’s time to shine even more of a spotlight on our chef ecosystem and amazing partners. Our chefs and partners are at the forefront of what we do and are the face to the client, but why not learn a little more about them and their businesses.
Meet Toure!
Toure (@alovesupreme) is the founder and executive director of Turning Tables (@turningtablesnola), a program that advocates for diversity, visibility, and inclusivity in the hospitality industry by providing mentorship, educational tools, and platforms to support and sustain the Black and Brown communities of New Orleans. They are changing the face of hospitality by cultivating leadership and creating a model for equitable access to career pathways.
Toure has many years of experience in the food & beverage world, and we’re excited to see his knowledge and skills flourish in Turning Tables.
We are so excited to continue partnering with Turning Tables for future events.
What was your inspiration for starting Turning Tables?
My inspiration was my own experience in the industry and constantly being the only one and bringing value to the table that was not recognized. I thrived because of mentors and my desire to prove my own value. No one can say anything if you have the tools coming in but people have to be willing to teach and meet people at different levels. Not everyone learns and receives information the same way and not everyone is given the consideration of where they came from before they got to you. I was given a chance without any experience but no one one could ever deny the hustle. Turning Tables came from a desire to level the playing field through investment in tools, opportunity, education and empowering through a platform that reflected value in self and that was clear to others.
Tell us more about the mission of Turning Tables.
Turning Tables advocates for diversity, visibility and inclusivity in the hospitality industry by providing mentorship, educational tools and platforms to support and sustain the Black and Brown communities of New Orleans. We are changing the face of hospitality by cultivating leadership and creating a model for equitable access to career pathways.
Tell us about your 2020 goals for Turning Tables?
The world is so much smaller now. I have so many goals. At the top of the list is building a sustainable model and blowing people's minds and building our family nationally.
How have you/Turning Tables shifted during COVID?
Absolutely. The nature of the program has to shift and so does the training, curriculum and method of learning. People on a world wide scale are more accessible through Zoom and connecting to people with similar objectives is crucial. We have always been beyond bartending but now we have the opportunity to explore realms adjacent to the industry. There are so many possibilities and ways to go. I have been working with and listening to my crew from the first round. We're going to continue to innovate and keep things fresh.
What is your favorite cocktail?
A Last Word with Mezcal
Easiest cocktail/beverage to impress someone?
A Vesper
Aside from your amazing bar programs, what is one of your favorite bars or bar programs in the city?
Barrel Proof and the Saint is right down the street from my house so those are places I end up by default but I really like to spread the wealth. Cocktails By Pop is killing it right now! She's super creative in her presentation, teaches and makes bomb cocktails! I think that with the future of where this industry could possibly go that she is the future 100%
What is inspiring you during these times?
The energy and momentum behind the protests and rallies here make me super optimistic about change in New Orleans. Across the world really, but speaking to what is happening here, Southern Solidarity and Step Up have been taking the lead on socialist and community based initiatives to directly affect systematic change. The New Orleans community has also stepped up through volunteering and support of organizations doing the work so that we can keep this momentum going.
What's your favorite New Orleans classic cocktail?
A French 75 with cognac.
What is something you want people to know about you?
I love connecting with people and learning their stories. Part of bartending for me is connecting with people one on one. I love creating drinks and teaching people what goes into that drink but more importantly having someone walk away with a different outlook and perspective. It's the way that I have always been and one of the most experiences I have ever had is walking into a place of hate and knowing that I changed that person. I met and spent time with a Grand Dragon in the Klan, I got dropped off in the middle of a third world country with little to no Spanish and have gone into enclaves of the world where other people would be fearful and walked way with nothing but love.
In your opinion, what do you think the New Orleans beverage scene will look like in the next few years?
The New Orleans beverage scene has always been formulated by classics and pride in our legacy within cocktail history. One of the lessons that I took from Covid is that people have the time to learn and are more and more curious about being a part of the creation process. Investing in local vs. imported talent will change the face of how that story is told and investment in the people creating them. I see more creative ways of getting cocktails in front of people happening and maybe even a return to the speakeasy and in marriage with food in more intimate settings outside of bars and restaurants. I see more cross pollination between spaces and people thinking outside of the camaraderie of their circles.
We are SO looking forward to working with you and Turning Tables, but we want to know what are you hoping comes out of a partnership with us?
When Barrie approached me to work with 'My House Events,' she had an eye to collaborating on something sustainable that aside from being a revenue stream would also become a platform for exposure and representation. There are endless possibilities for us to collaborate and innovate. This is an opportunity for your (MHE) clients to actively see and actively participate in a side of New Orleans that has been overlooked and undervalued. This next generation is on the cusp of being a part of intentional and impactful change in the industry from all angles and the industry will 100% be better for it.
