I am Pavina Soukamneuth. I am a single mother who lives in the Hudson Valley on a farm. My family immigrated from the Mekong Valley in Laos, to the US in the 1970s. Cooking Lao food for my community is a means to bringing me closer to my roots- chattering around a hot stove with Asian aunties and sisters, crushing papaya in the mortar that my mother passed on to me, the scent of sliced lemongrass wafting up to my nose, and padaek (fermented fish sauce) coating my tongue like no other flavor can. My family is all over the country and the world, so hosting these Lao pop-up meals is a way of honoring my cultural and ancestral roots while sharing with others in America the traditions that shape me.
I draw upon my family traditions to create pop-up meals in rural upstate New York, including the Hudson Valley, and in the Berkshires, Massachusetts. Through these events, I use a mix of seasonal, locally grown ingredients and other traditional ingredients to bring people together to experience Lao culture and community through food. My pop-up meals create a space for community connection, cultural exchange, and appreciation of sustainable cooking in rural regions that lack diverse dining options.
Each meal is thoughtfully selected from my visceral memories of eating and gathering with my Lao family and community growing up. The meals are a combination of authentic Lao cuisine including street food and little known dishes outside of Laos. Guests not only share a meal but also engage with my heritage and the stories behind the food, eating unique food that is not available in restaurants. I invite friends and community members to help me cook which also nurtures an environment of sharing, learning and community in the kitchen. An intention I have is to foster deeper connections, curiosity, and conversation within my community, creating meaningful social and cultural bonds, offering a thread to the greater diverse web of American culture.
I draw upon my family traditions to create pop-up meals in rural upstate New York, including the Hudson Valley, and in the Berkshires, Massachusetts. Through these events, I use a mix of seasonal, locally grown ingredients and other traditional ingredients to bring people together to experience Lao culture and community through food. My pop-up meals create a space for community connection, cultural exchange, and appreciation of sustainable cooking in rural regions that lack diverse dining options.
Each meal is thoughtfully selected from my visceral memories of eating and gathering with my Lao family and community growing up. The meals are a combination of authentic Lao cuisine including street food and little known dishes outside of Laos. Guests not only share a meal but also engage with my heritage and the stories behind the food, eating unique food that is not available in restaurants. I invite friends and community members to help me cook which also nurtures an environment of sharing, learning and community in the kitchen. An intention I have is to foster deeper connections, curiosity, and conversation within my community, creating meaningful social and cultural bonds, offering a thread to the greater diverse web of American culture.
