You may already know him from sold-out dinners, beautifully curated take-out platters, and crowded pop-ups; a farmer, chef, florist, and creator of bespoke weddings, Tu has been a fixture in the local food scene since starting 328 North Farm ten years ago. 

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To the theater, he’ll bring a locally sourced spread, from New England-made snacks and sodas to his signature farm-to-table, Vietnamese-influenced concession meals like bánh mì and noodle bowls. He’s also bringing collaborations with food purveyors like Provisions Williamstown and Berkshire Cider. “It’ll be completely New England curated,” he said. 

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It’s the 10th anniversary of 328 North, and Tu is spending the summer focusing on the farm, finding ways to celebrate it through food that tells a story about his own experience and the history and landscape of the Berkshires. While he’s sold out countless food events, this is his first time creating a concessions experience at a theater. 

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“I feel like this overlaps really well and is the natural progression of the work I’m doing this year,” he said. “I want to use the farm as a platform to tell stories, and I think the theater will be great for that.” He’s also planning to host 328 North’s annual harvest dinner on the theater stage.

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Tu said he wants to show that it’s possible to source a hyper-local menu. We’re talking popcorn made in Enfield, Connecticut; chips from Springfield; seltzer from Boston. He’ll source other items from Berkshire-based distributors like Marty’s Local. “It’s these little choices–it shows you can do business in a circular economy,” he said. 

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“The way we are developing the culinary concept at the Adams Theater is similar to the way we develop artistic programs. It is all about collaborations and experimentation,” Theater Founder and Artistic Director Yina Moore said. “Tu not only brings in a great culinary vision, but also the appreciation for an iterative process in developing performance specific experiences. We want the audience to enjoy the Adams Theater as a holistic experience, from the show, to the food, to a strong sense of belonging.” 

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Moore connected with Tu through 1Berkshire, and they immediately found themselves on the same wavelength. Tu said he’s inspired by the way Moore has built the theater and her team so far. “She has a vision. It’s not just the theater, it’s the community, the inn, the collaborators.” he said. “The way she’s curated who she works with to build this with her says a lot.”