Friday, June 7 kicked off the Discover Food Festival, sponsored by Harmons, Creminelli and Traeger Grills. Attendees from all around the valley came out to support the IRC’s Spice Kitchen Incubator as it transitions to a new space. We ate food from all over the world, danced to the global sounds and enjoyed a beautiful sunset view from the patio of Traeger Grills HQ.
Local businesses Pretty Bird, Beehive Cheese, Cotopaxi and more threw their sponsorship hats into the ring to help realize the Spice KitchenIncubator’s mission to help refugees and new Americans start food businesses here in Salt Lake City. Whether you had a craving for jerk chicken, authentic Mexican salsa or were simply looking to try something new, the Discover Food Festival had something to suit all tastes.
As a celebration of Utah’s growing diversity, we were treated to the cuisines of refugees from Russia-Armenia, Africa, Venezuela, Mexico and Syria. These upcoming entrepreneurs will help shape the culinary landscape of the Salt Lake Valley in the years to come and will introduce culture through cuisine into the hearts of Utah locals like never before. 100% of the event donations and ticket sales will help fund the Spice Kitchen Incubator‘s new facility, where the entrepreneurs can continue to create and grow their businesses into something special that we can all enjoy. As a thank you for attending the event and supporting the IRC’s mission, patrons were gifted a Harmon’s swag bag packed with goodies from Beehive Cheese, Creminelli, Traeger Grills, Mamachari Kombucha and more. If you missed your chance to attend the Discover Food Festival, there will be plenty of opportunities to continue supporting this mission in the coming months and years by visiting the Spice KitchenIncubator at their new facility on 751 W. 800 S.
Discover Food Festival Gallery by Talyn Sherer:
Traeger BBQ sauce lines the bar and greets Discover Food Festival guests as they walk in the door. Photo: Talyn Sherer
As part of guests’ complimentary swag, they received a Spice Kitchen water bottle just in time for the summer sun. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Spudnik, a Russian-Armenian business, dishes up a delicious flaky pastry to kick off the day. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Najati is head chef of Namash Swahili Cuisine that serves traditional recipes passed down from mother to daughter. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Outside, some early birds arrive to get the first worm—or in this case, the first bite of delicious African cuisine. Photo: Talyn Sherer
A Discover Food Festival attendee purchases additional tickets in hopes of winning one of the great prizes that were donated by local businesses. Photo: Talyn Sherer
(L-R) Milena Nava and owner Karine Mnatsakanyan are the powerhouses behind the Russian-Armenian Spunik. Photo: Talyn Sherer
The grand prize, a Traeger grill plus accessories, had Discover Food Festival attendees pouring out their wallets to increase their chance of winning this beautiful piece of BBQ art. Photo: Talyn Sherer
The prizes for the raffle drawing are lined across the table, getting patrons eager to buy more entries. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Tickets are placed in the golden basket, patiently awaiting their turn to be picked. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Traeger has got you covered on all your utensil needs. Photo: Talyn Sherer
(L-R) Yasser Alzluabi and head chef Noor Eddin Abdul-bari gave us a delicious taste of shawarma and Syrian cuisine. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Delicious shawarma pockets accompany one of the best versions of baba ganoush I have ever had the pleasure of trying, courtesy of Noor Al Sham. Photo: Talyn Sherer
(L-R) Chef Abudu and Fouzia Abdirahaman had a serious line forming for Discover Food Festival attendees to get their hands on the delicious Caribbean and African fusion known as Kafe Mamai. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Barbequed jerk chicken accompanies a tomato-spiced sauce and a mango papaya habanero sauce from Kafe Mamai. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Chef Abudu takes full advantage of the Traeger grills to prepare his delicious jerk chicken. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Cal Cruz spun some great music from every corner of the globe that perfectly accompanied the theme of Discover Food Festival. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Eliceo and his wife Ahimara (not pictured) are the culinary creatives behind the Venezuelan-originated Delicius. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Halab’s Jasmine Kitchen crafted up a tasty Syrian wrap. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Salsa Chef Merab offers artisan salsas hand-crafted in Salt Lake City. Photo: Talyn Sherer
One of Utah’s most influential residents, Cristiano Cremenelli, pauses for a brief moment to showcase their newest product. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Out on the patio, some local food connoisseurs enjoy the view from the Traeger deck. Photo: Talyn Sherer
This mild roasted tomatillo salsa can be delivered straight to your door, courtesy of Salsa Chef Merab. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Salsa Chef Merab discusses her business model—doorstop delivery of her delicious homemade salsas. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Mamachari Kombucha was a co-sponsor of the Discover Food Festival, along with dozens of other local shops. Photo: Talyn Sherer
(L-R) Scarlett, Casidhe Holland (Spice Kitchen), Claire Andrus, Audrey, Catrina Cruz (Creminelli), Jonathan and Jack Hardy (Volunteer IRC) and Lexi bracken (IRC). Photo: Talyn Sherer
Out on the Traeger patio, Discover Food Festival patrons cozy up on the picnic tables where they enjoy their flavors of Spice Kitchen chefs. Photo: Talyn Sherer
(L-R) Forest Young and Britton Welsh came out to represent Beehive Cheese, one of the many sponsors of the Discover Food Festival. Photo: Talyn Sherer
(L-R) Lenny and Melanie Ogomo exchange conversation over their love of Creminelli meats and the dishes being served up by Spice Kitchen. Photo: Talyn Sherer
(L-R) Jonathan Herrera, Seth King, Rich Doxey,Betsy Broadwater and Kara Esplin came out to represent Discover Food Festival sponsor Cotopaxi. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Rawiya of Halab’s Jasmine Kitchen passes out chicken shawarma wraps to event attendees. Photo: Talyn Sherer
The lounge chairs and fire pit had patrons begging for a return trip on a warm summer night. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Discover Food Festival guests pack in close to prepare for the prize drawing. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Local cupcake business owner Kasthuri of Kasthuri Cupcakes took home the grand prize, an achievement that her husband was fairly happy about. Photo: Talyn Sherer
(L-R) Casidhe Holland, Kathryn Idzorek, Jackie Rodabaugh, Cristiano Cremenelli, Cameron Silva, Chris Bowler, and Carolyn Meyers all represent the top sponsors who made the Discover Food Festival possible. Photo: Talyn Sherer
Discover Food Festival attendees exit the Traeger grills HQ with their bellies full and their swag bags packed tight. Photo: Talyn Sherer
