Skip the trip to Epcot. On Thursday, you can experience cultures of the world right here in Philadelphia, all while supporting the immigrants and refugees who help these cultures flourish in the city.
The Nationalities Service Center’s 12th Global Tastes fundraiser will feature traditional foods from 19 restaurants, including Amina’s, which makes Syrian dishes, and South Philly Barbacoa, the Mexican restaurant run by immigration activist Cristina Martinez that’s been featured on Chef’s Table. Wash it down with drinks from six Philly-area beverage companies like Bearings Coffee and Two Robbers Hard Seltzer. The Citizen’s Foodizen columnist Jason Wilson will work with other food critics (in a friendly competition) to decide best dish, most authentic dish, and best fusion dish.
Along with good eats, the event will host six cultural performances, including Armenian, Bollywood, Mexican, and Chinese dance groups; Moroccan jazz band M’oudSwing; and Russian violinist Zhanna Saakyan.
“[The event] is an infusion of different cultures to celebrate their uniqueness while really bringing them all together to show the true diversity we have in the city,” says Danielle McGrogan, NSC’s development manager, who is looking forward to tasting everything from Syrian grape leaves to Korean noodles.
NSC is a nearly 100-year-old Philadelphia non-profit dedicated to providing legal and case management services and offering education, language and health services to area immigrants and refugees. Currently, NSC provides services to about 5,000 immigrants and refugees each year.
The NSC also looks to celebrate people in the Philadelphia area who are allies to the immigrant and refugee community. This year, the organization will honor Pennsylvania State Representative Joe Hohenstein, who served as an immigration lawyer for more than 20 years, and Villanova University, which is a resource for NSC’s legal and health services.
Global Tastes is NSC’s most lucrative fundraiser of the year, McGrogan says, at a time when the need is greater than ever.
“We will be using these funds to keep the door open for those who need it most during this really challenging and fearful time for immigrants,” she says.
Thursday, April 4th, from 7pm – 10pm; tickets start at $100; WHYY, 150 N. 6th Street