St. Petersburg residents will have a chance to see the acclaimed documentary Coldwater Kitchen on Tuesday, Sept. 15, as part of a free community event hosted by the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg and the Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival. The 90‑minute film follows a gourmet culinary training program inside the Lakeland Correctional Facility in Coldwater, Michigan, and highlights how cooking skills can help incarcerated men transition to productive lives after release.
Local screening details
The screening will take place at the Foundation’s Center for Health Equity, located at 2333 34th St. S., with doors opening at 5 p.m. for food and networking. The film begins at 6 p.m., followed by a panel discussion that runs until 9 p.m. Admission is free, but attendees must register in advance.
About the film
“Coldwater Kitchen” began when Ernest Davis, an incarcerated man who spent years in the prison’s culinary program, wrote a letter to Detroit Free Press restaurant critic Mark Kurlyandchik. Kurlyandchik visited the prison, witnessed the inmates’ cooking demonstrations, and later partnered with filmmaker Brian Kaufman to turn the story into a documentary. Kurlyandchik and Kaufman serve as co‑directors.
Chef Jimmy Lee Hill, who has taught cooking to incarcerated men for more than three decades, is the film’s central figure. Hill’s curriculum goes beyond basic food preparation, teaching fine‑dining techniques, catering, food safety, presentation and professional kitchen etiquette. Participants also handle professional kitchen equipment, including knives, under strict supervision—a trust‑building element that many inmates have never experienced before.
Personal stories
The documentary follows Hill and three participants as they confront different futures. Ernest Davis entered prison as a teenager and received a life sentence. Bradley Leonard, a former high‑end restaurant worker, struggled with heroin addiction while in the program. Dink Dawson served seven years for drug dealing, learned professional cooking, and now works in Detroit’s restaurant scene, offering a glimpse of the challenges and opportunities that come with reentry.
Accolades and outreach
“Coldwater Kitchen” premiered at DOC NYC in 2022 and earned the 2023 James Beard Media Award for documentary/docuseries visual media. It was later selected for the 2025 American Film Showcase, a U.S. film‑diplomacy initiative that brings American stories to international audiences. The film’s creators have toured the country, pairing screenings with conversations about incarceration, employment and the power of professional skills after release.
Local voices join the conversation
Following the screening, Hill and Dawson will sit down with executive producer Desiré Vincent Levy for a Q&A. St. Petersburg chef Marques Clark of Yes Chef Village will also join the panel to share a local perspective on how culinary training can aid former inmates in rebuilding their lives.
“Stories have the power to transform our thinking, spark new ideas and inspire us to act boldly in service of our shared humanity and values,” said Dr. Kanika Tomalin, President and CEO of the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg, in a prepared statement. The partnership with the Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival underscores the event’s focus on health, culture and economic opportunity for the community.
Residents interested in attending should register early, as space is limited. The event promises not only an inspiring film but also a meaningful dialogue about how skill‑building programs can strengthen families, support traditional values and promote individual liberty through honest work.
Original reporting: St. Pete Catalyst — read the source article.
