Description
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🍽️ Would You Ever Dine in a Detention Center?
Not as a visitor. Not as an observer. As a guest… at the table.
We're hosting an unforgettable 5-course dinner inside an active Mecklenburg County detention center. This isn’t just about food. It’s about perspective, possibility, and breaking stigmas.
Chef Erick Crawford, owner of Marlee Jean’s and 2024 UPPY Food Truck of the Year, was once in a treatment center himself. After overcoming addiction, he built a new path forward. Now he returns, not in cuffs, but in service. He’s sharing his story with guests and working directly with the residents (inmates) to develop a menu rooted in creativity.
Each course is inspired by meals made in detention using real commissary ingredients, reimagined and elevated by Chef Erick into a full-size plated dinner. This is not a tasting menu.
What to expect:
- A 5-course plated dinner, each dish inspired by commissary meals
- Community-style seating with storytelling behind each course
- You will be dining with a spork, no other utensils allowed(food will be served pre-cut)
- Guests may interact with residents (inmates) during the event
- Doors close and lock at 3:50 PM sharp. No late entry. No refunds
- No ingredient substitutions or dietary accommodations
Important info:
- Tickets are $80 per person and include 5 full-size courses and soft drinks (no alcohol will be served)
- All guests must be 18 or older
- All attendees must wear the provided event t-shirt
- Background check through Mecklenburg County is required before attending(no cost to you)
- Government-issued ID required at check-in
- Expect security screening upon entry
- No phones, photography, video recording, or weapons of any kind allowed
- By attending, you assume all risks associated with entering and dining in an active detention center
- Ride-share is strongly encouraged. Paid parking available at 915 E 4th St, Charlotte, NC 28204
This is an intimate and intentional dinner created in collaboration with those inside. It’s meant to connect, not separate.
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A Note from the Host: What This Dinner Is Really About
There’s been a lot of curiosity, so I want to take a moment to explain the heart behind this event.
This dinner is not about glorifying jail or turning incarceration into entertainment. It’s about connection, creativity, community, and hope. We’ve partnered directly with the Mecklenburg County Detention Center’s Re-Entry Program to create a unique, one-time culinary experience. The residents involved in this dinner are currently incarcerated and have not been convicted. They are participating in a structured re-entry program designed to break cycles of recidivism and help them build a path forward.
The residents helped curate the menu alongside Chef Erick Crawford, who believes in the power of food as a tool for change. Chef Erick has a vision to continue working with the detention center’s resource program after this event to offer mentorship and guidance for those interested in pursuing culinary work once released.
This event is not a profit-driven experience. The ticket cost covers only ingredients and labor in the kitchen. I often lose money on these dinners, but I host them to bring people together, share stories, and build community through food.
The goal is not to make light of a difficult reality. It’s to create space for creativity, share hope for what’s possible, and show what can happen when people come together with intention and respect.
- Evan @ Charlotte Foodies
Date & Time
Thu, Jul 24, 2025 3:30 PM - 6:00 PM
Venue Details
Mecklenburg County Detention Center Central
801 East 4th StreetCharlotte, North Carolina 28202
