Pop-Up Stolen Goods Brings Its Chef Collaborations to Joyland

Chef collaborative series Stolen Goods kicks off a May kitchen residency at Nourish Botanica’s pop-up incubator in the Joyland neighborhood. Starting May 13, Nourish Botanica will host three chefs from the Stolen Goods series each Saturday through Memorial Day weekend in its backyard events space.

Founded by former the Lawrence chef Maximilian Hines, Stolen Goods brings together a rotating group of Black and brown chefs from around Atlanta to participate in a series of dinners meant to be a collaborative culinary effort rather than competitive. Among its participants are Melanie Forehand, who worked with Hines at the Lawrence, Izzy Grier of Dad’s, Justin Dixon of Humble Mumble, pastry chef Claudia Martinez of Miller Union, and pitmaster Bryan Furman.

Nourish Botanica founder, Quianah Upton, who grew up in a food insecure area of southern Florida, sees her plant shop, pop-up incubator, and regular garden events and dinners in Joyland as vehicles to help raise social consciousness and spark conversations around access to healthy food in Atlanta.

“We support the good work of organizations and leaders fighting against food and economic justice by partnering to amplify their message and reach,” Upton says. “We believe in the concerted relationship between art, beauty, and agriculture.”

Upton offers residencies at Nourish Botanica to local restaurant pop-ups, chefs, and bartenders who want to experiment with sustainable food and vegetarian and vegan dishes and drinks centered on Caribbean and Southern flavors. Part of Upton’s many social justice food initiatives include amplifying Black culinary voices at the incubator and offering a free community breakfast, which begins this summer at Nourish Botanica.

The three Saturday Stolen Goods pop-ups take place May 13, May 20, and May 27, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., in the outdoor events space in back of Nourish Botanica.

May 13: Chef Isiah “Izzy” Grier (Dad’s)

Prior to landing his current gig at Dad’s in Virginia-Highland, Grier worked under notable Atlanta chefs like Hector Santiago and Andre Gomez and in the kitchen at Muss and Turner’s. Look for playful takes on comfort foods for which Grier is known at Dad’s during his Nourish Botanica pop-up.

May 20: Chef Melanie Forehand

In addition to working as a sous chef at the Lawrence, Foreman’s previous work includes a stint with renowned Atlanta pitmaster Bryan Furman and bringing her popular fried chicken to the Edna Lewis dinner honoring the Southern culinary legend hosted by Stolen Goods in 2022. At Nourish Botanica, Foreman plans to serve takes on dishes from the Afro-Caribbean diaspora.

May 27: Chef Maximilian Hines (Breaker Breaker)

Founder of Stolen Goods, and former head chef of the Lawrence in Midtown, Hines is set to lead the kitchen at forthcoming Reynoldstown restaurant Breaker Breaker opening later this summer. For his Memorial Day weekend pop-up at Nourish Botanica, Hines plans to offer twists on foods served at backyard cookouts.

Stolen Goods pop-ups: May 13, May 20, May 27, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. or until sold out.

1651 Pryor Road, Atlanta. nourishbotanica.cafe.