Dr. Lezli Levene Harvell is using food to celebrate women chefs and support students at Spelman College.
Her Iconoclast Dinner Experience returned to Martha’s Vineyard on August 9. The event brought chefs, winemakers, artists, and community leaders together.
The seventh annual “The King Is Dead” dinner took place at The FARM Institute. The 162-acre working farm sits in Edgartown, Massachusetts.
The evening focused on women in food and the island’s farming community. It also continued Harvell’s effort to create more visibility for diverse culinary professionals.
Women Chefs Take Center Stage at Martha’s Vineyard Dinner
Chef Ting served as the host chef for this year’s dinner. She is the founder of Oak Bluffs-based Black Joy Kitchen.
Chef Preston Clark served as culinary chair. He is the culinary director of Lure Fishbar and Bar Mercer in New York City.
Chefs-in-residence Monika Dominguez and India Doris also joined the team. Dominguez serves as chef de cuisine at Shiso in Miami.
Doris is the executive chef and co-owner of Markette in New York City. Jahdé Marley also led the evening’s wine experience.
The Dinner Put Martha’s Vineyard’s Local Food First
The dinner followed a farm-to-table approach. Participating chefs were encouraged to use ingredients sourced from Martha’s Vineyard.
That focus brought sustainability and local agriculture into the experience. It also connected the chefs with the island’s farming community.
The FARM Institute provided a fitting setting for the dinner. Its 162 acres support farming and educational programs in Edgartown.
The event therefore went beyond a traditional dinner. Food, farming, culture, and community all played a role.
Dr. Lezli Harvell Created the Dinner to Lift Diverse Talent
Harvell founded the Iconoclast Dinner Experience 11 years ago. She is also a board-certified pediatric dentist.
Her goal has been to increase visibility for diverse culinary and beverage professionals. The Martha’s Vineyard dinner continues that mission.
Harvell explained why the event remains important after seven years.
“For seven years, this dinner has brought together rising female chefs and Martha’s Vineyard’s farming community.”
She said the gathering creates a celebration of place, seasonality, and innovation. Those ideas remain central to the event.
Black Joy Kitchen’s Chef Ting Helps Lead the Celebration
Chef Ting brought a strong local connection to the event. Her Black Joy Kitchen is based in Oak Bluffs.
Her role also connected the dinner to the Black culinary community on Martha’s Vineyard. The evening highlighted women whose work continues to shape food culture.
Meanwhile, the other participating chefs brought experience from different cities. Their combined backgrounds added variety to the dinner.
Internationally renowned painter Tschabalala Self served as honorary chair. Her involvement expanded the celebration beyond food and into the arts.
The Dinner Also Supports International Spelman Students
The Iconoclast Dinner Experience has a charitable purpose alongside its culinary mission. Net proceeds support international students attending Spelman College.
The program specifically supports students from Jamaica and sub-Saharan African countries. Under Harvell’s leadership, the organization has raised more than $150,000.
That fundraising gives the dinner another layer of impact. Guests are not only supporting chefs and local agriculture.
They are also helping students pursue their education at a leading historically Black college. The effort connects food, philanthropy, and education.
Harvell’s Work Connects Food, Culture and Community
The Martha’s Vineyard dinner reflects a larger vision behind the Iconoclast experience. Harvell wants diverse professionals to receive greater visibility.
The event also creates space for people from different creative fields. Chefs, winemakers, artists, and cultural leaders shared the same gathering.
That combination helped make the evening about more than a meal. It became a celebration of talent, community, and opportunity.
For Harvell, the work continues through both the dinner and its charitable mission. The latest gathering shows how food can create meaningful connections while supporting future generations.
