On Saturday, Syracuse residents sampled ethnic cuisine from around the world, served by immigrant chefs at a pop-up food court. My Lucky Tummy, a dinner with international dishes held in the Alibrandi Catholic Center, had more than 400 attendees, according to its Facebook page. Diners were treated to traditional meals from Bhutan, Afghanistan, South Sudan, Iran and the Mohawk Nation.

Adam Sudmann, the event planner, started My Lucky Tummy in 2013 after moving from Brooklyn to Syracuse. He said he was introduced to the Northside’s large refugee community through an encounter with Pakistani and Congolese families.

Sudmann said his travels and a personal desire to learn about other cultures inspired him to focus on food.

“There are a lot of food courts in the places that I’ve traveled, and I thought, ‘maybe we can replicate the same experience here,’” he said.

My Lucky Tummy holds dinners that feature food cooked by refugees and immigrants living in Syracuse. Sudmann said he currently has a roster of 17 countries. Each event features meals from five different countries and each event has a different menu, he added.

Sudmann said he finds chefs with the help of the Syracuse Catholic Youth Organization and local food markets, such as the Laos Market on Butternut Street. So far, My Lucky Tummy has held three dinners and plans on holding three a year, Sudmann said.

In addition to food, the event included henna tattooing and craft beers. The Northside Messenger shop also sold bags and purses. Emma Voigt, the founder of Northside Messenger, said she makes bags out of different fabrics that represent different cultures of the Northside.

“Getting to know other cultures through food is always accessible and fun,” she said.

Sudmann said he thinks My Lucky Tummy events may end up helping diners more than the refugee chefs.

“I look at it less as refugees getting help, than refugees helping us get perspective, get excited, get a vision,” he said. Sudmann added that the cooks often end up learning from each other as well.

“The refugee community brings everybody together,” Monu Dhakal, a deaf cook at the event who moved to the United States from Bhutan, said through an interpreter. “We can all taste each other’s food and see the different countries, and that’s really nice.”

Chefs are paid $300 for their first time contributing to the dinner. Returning chefs are paid $350 for each subsequent contribution. Sudmann, however, insists that his company is not a charity.

“It’s paying people that can do something really specific, and paying them well,” he said.

For Sudmann, being environmentally responsible is a major part of My Lucky Tummy. The carbon footprint for the event is equivalent to one kitchen trash bag, he said. Speaking during the event, Sudmann reminded diners of the importance of composting rather than throwing away waste. All of the materials used, including plastic bags and plastic wrap, are compostable, he said.

Next October, Sudmann plans on partnering up with Salt City Harvest Farms in Kirkville. Sudmann said the farm allows refugee families to “grow the things they know and love.”

Sudman said this will also help reduce My Lucky Tummy’s carbon footprint, as ingredients can be grown and purchased locally, rather than being imported.

Said Sudman: “I’m bored and I’m hungry and I want my life to be enriched by people I meet.”

Published on February 10, 2014 at 12:05 am

Contact Zach: zdschwei@syr.edu