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Seacoast Stories

Top Seacoast Chef Evan Mallett on 20 YEARS of Black Trumpet, the Role of Restaurants, & the Fight For Social Justice

April 27 · 1 hr 15 min · Season 4 · 109.3 MBExplicit
0:00-1:15:49

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Restaurants play an important role in society.

But according to six-time James Beard nominee Evan Mallett, that role may not be what you think it is.

Beyond serving food, Mallett believes it's the role of the restaurant - especially a successful one - to highlight diversity, support local farms, and offer a seat at the table to those who aren't often invited.

Today, the chef/owner of Black Trumpet, a legendary downtown Portsmouth restaurant, joins host Troy Farkas for a wide-ranging discussion about Mallett's untraditional culinary background, the WILD road that led him to open one of the Seacoast's top restaurants 20 years ago, why he's bullish on foraging and using local ingredients, and the CRITICAL role restaurants play in a community.

Plus, the origin story of Farm-a-Q, and how the 2020 murder of George Floyd led Mallett, Vida Cantina's David Vargas, and Portsmouth assistant mayor Jo Kelley to start the New England BIPOC Fest.

Click these links to learn more about BIPOC Fest, Black Trumpet, and Farm-a-Q. For more weekly episodes like this one, please follow "Seacoast Stories" here on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

EPISODE CHAPTERS:

  • SS Live at Stone Church! (00:00)
  • Evan Mallett's untraditional culinary background (02:02)
  • Working as a big food critic in Boston (09:50)
  • Fleeing the U.S. to become a chef in Mexico (17:20)
  • SPONSORS: Dermatology & Skin Health + Brass Tacks Photography (28:32)
  • Evan & Black Trumpet's role in giving back to the community (32:12)
  • The stresses of the restaurant industry on mental health (46:15)
  • SPONSOR: Studioh Salon (56:06)
  • Starting NE BIPOC Fest in 2020 (57:40)

SPONSORS:

  • ⁠⁠⁠Dermatology & Skin Health: Get 15% off botox, filler, and laser treatments at all DSH locations by mentioning "Seacoast Stories" at checkout for the REST OF 2026!

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