Kitchen of Exotic Eats
Learn. Discover. Explore.
If you are interested in becoming a community chef, click here to learn more.
Our signature Kitchen of Exotic Eats program offers online and in-person cooking classes to individuals, the community, and organizations in a cultural culinary environment for eager aspiring community chefs and general participants to learn how to cook cultural dishes the way they were prepared and eaten in the origin country using traditional cookware. Many cookware items / equipment and ingredients may not be easily accessible in various geographical locations of the participants; however, the participants will learn tips for substituting ingredients and how to cook the original recipes using modern and accessible cookware. The cooking class will incorporate human journey and cultural stories connected to the significance of certain dishes and its ingredients. Participants will enjoy learning about the cooking techniques and symbolic meaning / purpose of various cookware, ingredients, and elements throughout the preparation and cooking processes as they relate to the diaspora topics surrounding the human journey.
Cooking Class and Culinary Cultural Experience
Welcome to the IMID’s Kitchen of Exotic Eats cooking class program co-hosted by the Idaho Office for Refugees (by Jannus, Inc.) – our legacy partner. If you are interested in becoming a community chef, click here to learn more. The program offers two opportunities for both chefs and eager participants:
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Cooking class: This online cooking class is an immersive experience that engages online participants in learning how to cook exotic eats alongside our community chefs beaming in from their own kitchens. Participants will learn, discover, and explore a culture-inspired cuisine by making an authentic dish and virtually taught by various community partners ("community chefs"). The class is open to individuals with all levels of culinary experience and will be offered regularly.
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Culinary Cultural Experience: Unlike an actual cooking class format, this in-person cultural culinary experience invites participants who are interested in learning about cultures through the lens of foods. The goals of this experience aim to connect and inspire through food, enlighten local audiences to new cultures, increase awareness about the refugee community’s cultural diversity in Boise, and make new friends! The experience will allow participants to observe, hear stories from the community chef, #LearnDiscoverExplore how the chef prepares and cooks exotic eats, and sample exotic eats in a fun in-person environment that will tempt your taste buds. The Idaho Office for Refugees in partnership with the Idaho Museum of International Diaspora, is offering paid cooking opportunities for talented home cooks and trained chefs from refugee and immigrant backgrounds. This is a great opportunity to share your culture through food, practice public speaking skills and introduce yourself to new audiences! These will take place every other month in 2024 beginning in January at JUMP in downtown Boise. Our next Culinary Cultural Experience is scheduled for March 21, 2024.
Thursday, March 21, 2024 | Culinary Cultural Experience: Indian Cuisine
In-person Cultural Cooking Experience | Register here.
We are pleased to announce our partnership with JUMP, in
collaboration with Idaho Office for Refugees, for the location
of our 3rd cultural cooking experience this year, free of charge!
Date & Time: Thursday, March 21, 2024 | 6:00pm-7:30pm
In-person location: JUMP at 1000 W Myrtle St, Boise, ID 83702
Platform: In-person only
Cost: No charge - free to the community | Registration required
Registration: click here
Chef: Sangeeta Mistry
Featured Recipe(s): Indian cuisine
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Cabbage Thoran
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Chole Masala
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Jeera Rice
About our chef:
Meet chef Sangeeta Mistry! Sangeeta has lived in Boise since 2002. She was born and raised in Mumbai, India and currently lives in Eagle, Idaho with her husband and cocker spaniel named Frodo. Her one son lives in Portland, OR and the other will soon be moving to Minneapolis. Besides having a day job, Sangeeta is a freelance cooking instructor and taught Indian inspired vegetarian cooking at a local Boise Co-op Market (Pre-Covid). She enjoys introducing the community to the many different flavors of regional Indian cuisine. Food has played a very important role in Sangeeta’s life. Growing up in Mumbai, culture, and family were all connected through the food they ate. Cooking is a gateway to her cultural heritage and community. When Sangeeta came to the U.S., she knew she wanted to continue to cook to share her Indian heritage and identity. She is always looking for opportunities to help educate people about her heritage through the food she prepares. To many, Indian cooking can seem complex and overwhelming but, at its core, Sangeeta says “it’s all about understanding how to build flavors.”
Cooking Class
Registration Only
For the March 21 Indian Cuisine Culinary Cultural Experience, register here.
Calling all Chefs!
ONLINE COOKING CLASSES ONLY
Home cooks and chefs, unite! It's time to share your culinary talents and kitchen secrets with the world, and we have just the opportunity for you! Our Kitchen of Exotic Eats program is calling on all community chefs to teach online cooking class participants in an immersive cultural cooking class experience through the nurturing power of foods because food connects people and communities. Our cooking class is designed to celebrate your cultural heritage. Join our #culturalfoodmovement and email us today at info@idahomid.org if you are interested in becoming an online Kitchen of Exotic Eats chef.
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Class duration: 1 hour (online) | 1.5 hours (online only)
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Class schedule: Flexible
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Stipend: Yes
CULINARY CULTURAL EXPERIENCE CLASSES ONLY
The Idaho Office for Refugees in partnership with the Idaho Museum of International Diaspora, is offering paid cooking opportunities for talented home cooks and trained chefs from refugee and immigrant backgrounds. This is a great opportunity to share your culture through food, practice public speaking skills and introduce yourself to new audiences! These will take place every other month in 2024 beginning in January at JUMP in downtown Boise. Our next Culinary Cultural Experience is scheduled for March 21, 2024 (for more information, see above and/or register here).
Email here to join our #culturalfoodmovement if you are interested in becoming a chef in our Kitchen of Exotic Eats program. Click here for more details.
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Event schedule: 1.5 hours (in-person only)
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Event schedule: 5-6pm (set-up) | 6:00-7:30pm (event) | 7:30-8:30pm (clean-up)
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Stipend: Yes