an evening in conversation with Alexander Smalls

I was over-the-moon excited to be in conversation for an evening (and book signing) with the incomparable Alexander Smalls — Tony & Grammy Award-winning opera singer turned James Beard Award-winning chef, culinary historian, and cultural storyteller.

Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at Suffolk University’s Ford Hall Forum, we raised a glass and sent in-person guests home with a complimentary eu2be replenishing oil to honor Alexander’s passion for nourishing heritage ingredients that accompany life-affirming rituals that treasure our humanity and traditions.

See Alexander's Instagram post recapping the event. With the flair of a gifted performer and the insight of a culinary historian, Smalls revealed how both song and sustenance carry the stories of migration, resilience, and creativity, leaving an indelible mark on global culture.

Alexander Smalls is an extraordinary talent who has mastered the world’s greatest stages and most celebrated kitchens. He’s also a masterful storyteller, and boy, does he have enriching stories to tell!

One last thing

I cherished experiencing the chef's lyrical voice via this historic platform that continues the legacy of culture-shifting conversations.

The Ford Hall Forum is the oldest continuously operating free public speaking platform in the United States — host to voices like Frederick Douglass, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Isaac Asimov, Noam Chomsky, W. E. B. Du Bois, Al Gore, Henry Kissinger, Norman Mailer, Ayn Rand, Eleanor Roosevelt, Robert Frost, Margaret Mead... only in Boston.

A truly special — and perhaps a Boston-first event!

Thank you, Lowell Institute!

Charla