Dinner and a run? Yes, chef.

A new visiting chef dinner series from Crown Shy's James Kent includes a community run the next morning.

If you know me, you know I love two things: food and running. (Well, more than two things, but, you know, for these purposes.) Now one of my favorite chefs has done something wild, wacky, and wonderful: He’s combined both. No, no, you don’t have to eat and run at the same time, but with this dinner series, your dinner reservation comes with a community run with the Crown Shy Running Club the next morning. How brilliant.

The combination of running and cooking sort of comes naturally to James; he is one hell of a marathon runner. We ran the 2022 NYC Marathon together for ROAR (well he did it a lot faster than I did), and he also runs the Crown Shy Running Club (pictured above), a weekly running club for his team, a heart-pumping way to create community and manage the stress and wear and tear of the kitchen on his team of cooks and servers. 

Now he’s launching a different kind of marathon: a culinary marathon. Starting Sunday (and running through March), James is handing his kitchen over to a different guest chef on select Sundays for a four-course menu inspired by their home restaurant. Then on Monday mornings, you’re invited to join the Crown High Run Club for a morning sprint led by the visiting chef and Crown Shy’s team, to balance the indulgence of the previous night’s feast. Amazing, right?

Don’t let the name fool you. This event isn’t just for runners. And the menu won’t be too carb-heavy. (But there will be pasta.)

The first collaboration of the series with Johnny Spero, and it’s happening this Sunday, January 21. Johnny, who is a  Maryland native, staged around the world at restaurants such as Mugaritz and Noma prior to returning to the Washington, D.C. area and working for José Andrés’ Minibar. Spero then went on his own to open Reverie in 2018 which earned his first Michelin- star in 2022. Spero opened his second restaurant, Bar Spero, in 2022 which was recognized as a James Beard semifinalist Best New Restaurant in 2023.

I’m excited!

Nina Compton comes in on 1/28, and Alex Kemp and Amanda Shulman host on 2/18. Dinner is $95, Reserve now via Resy.