James Beard Awards winner

The 2021 celebration of the James Beard Awards was held September 27 and was entitled “Stories of Resilience and Leadership.” This year’s event saluted the independent restaurant community by showcasing some of the organizations, leaders, and businesses that have made a significant impact in the industry and their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Included in this special tribute was Chef Omar Anani, owner of Saffron De Twah, Detroit. Saffron De Twah is no stranger to these prestigious culinary awards. In 2020, the James Beard Awards also honored this small and casual Moroccan bistro as a semifinalist in the category of Best New Restaurant. “The pandemic opened my eyes to another layer of hospitality that I didn’t know existed,” Anani said in a special tribute video. “We started creating these meal kits for displaced restaurant workers and then that led into frontline workers and then snowballed. During our peak, we were serving 1,400 meals a day to people in need.” Currently, the eatery is closed for renovations, however customers can visit their website for Table 22 monthly subscriptions as well as pop-up events. Saffron De Twah is located at 7636 Gratiot in Detroit. saffrondetwah.com