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:

 

1. 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. 

2. 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. 

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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!

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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 

• Cabbage Thoran

• Chole Masala

• Jeera Rice

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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.”

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