Cooking Class | Idaho Museum of International Diaspora

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:

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.
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.

JOIN US!

Flavors of the Mediterranean

(online cooking class | Zoom)

Tuesday, September 9, 2025 | 5:45pm - 7:00pm MST

We are excited to invite you to join our founder, Dr. Palina Louangketh, who is passionate about cooking with an eclectic set of herbs, spices, and other special ingredients. She enjoys creating foods packed with exotic flavors and plating them from her kitchen to yours.

September 9 kicks off Flavors of the Mediterranean, our first online cooking class as we wrap up the summer season. This fun immersive class is free to the public. Registration is required to receive additional information (e.g., recipes) and instructions. Please register below and stay tuned for a follow-up email from our very own chef.

Online Cooking Class
Flavors of the Mediterranean
Registration Required

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.

Class duration: 1 hour (online) | 1.5 hours (online only)
Class schedule: Flexible
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.

Event schedule: 1.5 hours (in-person only)
Event schedule: 5-6pm (set-up) | 6:00-7:30pm (event) | 7:30-8:30pm (clean-up)
Stipend: Yes