James Ford III: A Foodie’s Perspective on Black Cuisine, Fine Dining, and Food Trends

Over a perfectly chilled red at Penny’s Wine Bar, James Ford III shares how his Smithfield upbringing shaped a lifelong reverence for food, family, and tradition. From homemade rolls to architecture school theses, Ford draws bold lines between Black culinary heritage and cultural design. His perspective is clear: “We’ve been doing fine dining—we just didn’t call it that.