Attention all local chefs! Artscape is reaching out for your culinary talents to join Baltimore’s own Chef Cat, who will serve as the 2026 Flavor Lab Curator and host during the event.
Create Baltimore is pleased to announce the inclusion of Catina Smith, widely recognized as Chef Cat, in the Artscape event this year. Local chefs are invited to apply to participate alongside her. The Flavor Lab aims to highlight Baltimore’s vibrant food culture and will feature prominent chefs, innovative food concepts, and engaging culinary experiences. This lively hub will be located at the intersection of Guilford and Pleasant streets in Baltimore during Artscape 2026, scheduled for Memorial Day weekend from May 23 to 24, running from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Robyn Murphy, CEO of Create Baltimore, expressed enthusiasm about Chef Cat’s role, stating, “We’re proud to have Baltimore’s own Chef Cat curating the demo kitchen in Flavor Lab this year. Artscape is about generating real opportunity for creatives while making culture accessible and alive across our city. Flavor Lab brings that to life in a way that feels distinctly Baltimore—bold, layered, and rooted in our identity. It’s not just a food experience inside the festival—it’s a reflection of who we are.”
Chefs, culinary artisans, and food storytellers are encouraged to participate in the nation’s largest free outdoor festival by showcasing their skills at the Cooking Demo Experience at Artscape. This unique venue connects food with art, culture, and community, and participants will have the chance to work alongside the renowned Chef Cat, a professional chef with over 20 years of culinary expertise. Chef Cat gained national recognition as a contestant on Hell’s Kitchen and has since made significant contributions to the community as the co-founder of Our Time Kitchen (OTK) and the founder of Cherry Street Diner.
OTK serves as both a commissary kitchen and a community resource designed to uplift culinary entrepreneurs. It offers workshops, classes, pop-up events, and provides opportunities for minority women and individuals from marginalized genders to rent the commercial kitchen by the hour, enabling them to transform their home cooking ventures into fully permitted small businesses in the food industry. Chef Cat’s first brick-and-mortar establishment, the Cherry Street Diner, is set to open in Baltimore City.
Expressing her excitement, Chef Cat commented, “I am thrilled to host the cooking demo stage at the Flavor Lab this year at Artscape. Baltimore has an incredibly talented culinary community, and I’ve had the privilege of experiencing these chefs’ food firsthand and trust me, you don’t want to miss what they have in store. This is going to be an unforgettable celebration of the flavors that make this city so special.”
Local chefs interested in taking part in the Cooking Demo Experience should ensure their applications are submitted by May 8.
