On Saturday, Nov. 7, the Esplanade will transform its plaza at 2501 E. Camelback Road into Phoenix’s largest communal dining table for the inaugural Esplanade Community Table. More than 150 guests will sit down together for a family-style meal prepared by three James Beard-nominated chefs, with all proceeds benefiting St. Mary’s Food Bank. Chefs Roberto Centeno, Armando Hernandez and Nadia Holguin will collaborate on a four-course menu created specifically for the evening. Centeno, owner of Espíritu, joins Hernandez and Holguin, the team behind Tacos Chiwas and Cocina Chiwas. Together, all three chefs are also partners in Main Burger.

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“The Esplanade has always been a place where Phoenix’s business community comes together and now with a renewed focus on creating exciting experiences with our food and beverage partners on the ground plane, we wanted to launch something that brings people to the table for a cause we all share: making sure our neighbors have access to food,” said Robert Marino, a representative from the Esplanade Ownership. “St. Mary’s Food Bank was a natural partner. Bringing our tenants and neighbors together for a family-style meal in support of their work felt like the right way to honor that mission, and we hope this is the first of many Community Tables in the years to come.”

“As we enter the holiday season, we are so thankful to the Esplanade for selecting St. Mary’s as beneficiary of this inaugural Community Table event,” St. Mary’s Food Bank President and CEO Milt Liu said. “With so many of our neighbors struggling and so many families coming to the food bank for the first time for assistance, the support St. Mary’s receives from this event could not have come at a better time. Bringing people around one table to make sure others have food for their tables is a wonderful way to show that we are one as a community.”

“What makes this night exciting is that we get to step outside the walls of our restaurants and create something that only exists for one evening,” said Centeno. “Armando, Nadia and I each bring our own perspective to the table, and this gives us a chance to play with fire, flavor and technique in a completely different setting. We want guests to feel like they’re part of what’s happening – not just sitting down for dinner.”

The event also celebrates the newly renovated Esplanade. Ownership has invested $60 million into reimagining the campus, creating a “social workplace” where work and community come together. The renovation features lush landscaping, shaded outdoor gathering spaces and a brand-new two-story amenity building with wellness, dining and meeting spaces. Directly connected to Biltmore Fashion Park in the heart of the Biltmore neighborhood, the Esplanade is now home to a growing collection of restaurants, including FLINT by Baltaire, Camello, The Mercer, Hearsay, Perks and The Little Pickle. FLINT, Camello, The Mercer and Hearsay will all be participating in the event each by providing a paired cocktail for a different course.

More than a traditional seated dinner, Esplanade Community Table is designed as an experiential, chef-driven evening that brings guests closer to the food, the chefs and the creative process. Live-fire cooking, handmade tortillas, floral installations and live entertainment will unfold throughout the plaza as part of the experience.

At the center of the evening is the collaboration between Centeno, Hernandez and Holguin. Each has earned James Beard recognition and brings a distinct culinary perspective to the table. Community Table gives the three chefs an opportunity to step outside their traditional restaurant environments and create a menu specifically around the setting, format and energy of the evening.

Through sponsors like Shamrock Foods Company, JLL, CBRE, Prologis, QXL Security, Clune Construction, Taft Law Firm and more, The Esplanade Community Table has raised $50,000, which will provide more than 250,000 meals. St. Mary’s Food Bank provides nutritious food to families, children, and seniors facing food insecurity. Each year, the nonprofit distributes food to millions of people throughout Arizona. Their efficient operations and purchasing power allow them to turn $1 donated into 5 meals. 

“As a local, family-owned company in the food industry and a new member of the Esplanade community, we’re thrilled to take part in this special culinary event,” said Devon McClelland, president of Shamrock Foods Company. “We’ve been partners with St. Mary’s Food Bank from its early days, and we are honored to support such an essential community resource.” 

Tickets are now on sale for $500 per person and can be purchased through the Esplanade Community Table website: www.esplanadecommunitytable.com