Foodways Symposium Focuses on Middle Eastern Culture, Cooking and Food

Kalamazoo’s Third Annual Foodways Symposium will focus on Middle Eastern culture, cooking, and food. The event takes place April 5 – 6 at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum and the Bronson Healthy Living Campus of Kalamazoo Valley Community College. The Foodways Symposium inspires and empowers the Greater Kalamazoo community to honor our agricultural history and heritage cuisines, celebrate good food, and work together to build a just and healthy future for all.

The first Kalamazoo Foodways Symposium was held in April 2017. It included cooking demonstrations, children's activities, and a keynote address by food writer and community activist Toni Tipton-Martin, author of The Jemima Code. Last spring’s Second Annual Foodways Symposium focused on Native American culture, cooking, and food sovereignty and justice.

The Museum will host keynote speaker Liana Aghajanian in the Mary Jane Stryker Theater at 5:30 and 7 p.m. on Friday night. A journalist specializing in storytelling and international reporting, Aghajanian has focused much of her work on marginalized communities, immigration, displacement, and identity. Recently, she has been documenting the Armenian experience in America through food. Her project, “Dining in Diaspora,” traces the intersection of cuisine and agriculture with genocide, immigration, identity, and more.

The Symposium continues Saturday with workshops, conversations, and hands-on cooking demonstrations for all ages at the Kalamazoo Valley Culinary and Allied Health Building.

Join this event and become immersed in the food and culture of this extraordinary region. Learn how to make baklava from scratch using recipes from the 16th century, explore different variations of flat breads, enjoy Turkish coffee, visit with vendors, and so much more. Traditional Syrian lunch will be available for purchase at the Havirmill Cafe.

The Foodways Symposium is a collaboration between the Museum and the Bronson Healthy Living Campus. The program and activities provide historical, cultural, and practical insights into food and food systems in Southwest Michigan. It serves as a convening point for students, practitioners, and the community to come together to build a strong, vibrant local food system.

All Foodways Symposium activities are free, family-friendly, and open to the public. Pre-registration is required through the website. Get more information at www.kvcc.edu./kalamazoofoodways.

The Kalamazoo Valley Museum is operated by Kalamazoo Valley Community College and is governed by its Board of Trustees.