Community Kitchens

COVID-19 impacted the business model of many community-driven caterers, restaurants, and folk artists who, through food and art, provided meaningful cultural connections for people across Philadelphia and the surrounding areas. To ensure that culturally-meaningful food and art would continue on and thrive past the pandemic, we created Community Kitchens.

This grassroots fundraising initiative works in partnerships with these local artists and businesses to offer a curated boxed dinner based in a unique culinary tradition found throughout the Philadelphia region. In addition to a meal for two, the boxes highlight the city’s diverse foodways and the incredible work of some of our closest constituents through ethnographic narratives, interpretative materials, and fun mementos the whole family can enjoy.

When you purchase a Community Kitchens box, you are supporting the Folklore Project’s citywide commitment to work with communities to build upon cultural heritage as a resource for community health and infrastructure. Thanks to our dedicated 50/50 profit sharing model, these same dollars also go directly to our local vendors and creatives as they look to rebuild their businesses and overcome pandemic related losses.

Listed in this page are our past Community Kitchens partnerships, as well as our next venture, available for a limited time.

Liwetan-In-A-Box

The Philadelphia Folklore Project’s Liwetan-In-A-Box is heading back to your door! We invite community members to support Philadelphia’s unique folk cultural life, immigrant communities, and informal economies through a one-of-a-kind, delicious cultural experience that can be enjoyed safely from home. Liwetan-In-A-Box is a takeout version of the Folklore Project’s iconic Liwetan Feast dinners. Each boxed dinner serves 2-3 people and includes contactless delivery. Chicken & Fish or Vegetarian options are available, and each box comes in a PFP custom reusable shopping bag with reheating instructions and a fun menu magnet.

Honoring Pang Xiong: Hmong Sauce Sampler

This edition of Community Kitchens is part of our program, Honoring Pang Xiong Sirirathasuk Sikoun, where we partner with her family and the Hmong community of greater Philadelphia to celebrate the life and contributions ofvPang Xiong Sirirathasuk Sikoun, a paj ntaub (Hmong textile/embroidery) artist, chef, and Hmong culture bearer, who passed away due to COVID19 in 2020. We dedicate this segment to a trio of her sought after Hmong sauces (sweet chili, peanut, and hot chili) prepared by her son and professional chef, Chakawarn Sirirathasuk. The sauces are accompanied by virtual interpretive programming around the recipes (podcast, YouTube videos, and web publications), and included in the gift box of sauces are Hmong handicrafts made by Pang prior to her passing.

The Philadelphia Folklore Project is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization devoted to changing the landscape in terms of equitable access and investment in out city’s cultural infrastructure.

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