‘Top Chef’ Winner Mei Lin Will Make Sichuan Chicken Pitas in Navy Yard This Weekend

High-end Middle Eastern restaurant Albi and companion cafe Yellow will host the first guest chef in a new Habibi Sofra Club series full of big names this weekend when Mei Lin — the L.A.-based Top Chef winner and Eater Young Gun (2014) — shows up in Navy Yard on Sunday, April 25. Headliners who are visiting to collaborate with Albi chef-owner Michael Rafidi will create pita sandwiches at Yellow by day (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.) before putting together a tasting menu at Albi that night.

Lin will stuff Rafidi’s wood-fired pitas with Sichuan hot fried chicken similar to what customers can find at her new sandwich shop, Daybird. Dinner ($150 per person) includes Asian snacks, small plates, and desserts, plus Rafidi’s spreads, pitas, and coal-fired meats. Lin will also sell her Umamei Sauce by the bottle.

Upcoming culinary stars in the series include James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Solomonov of Zahav in Philly (June 13), Danny Lee of Chiko and Anju (July 11), the Dabney’s Jeremiah Langhorne (May 16), and Michael Mina (August 15). Albi’s wine team will pick out pairings each night. A portion of proceeds support EmbraceRace, an organization that works to educate kids about racial bias.

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Guinness/official photo

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