CULTURE GENERATION

PRESENTS

SeaTac

Culinary Tourism®

Connecting Cultures Through Cuisine

2025 Culinary Tours in Planning

SeaTac Culinary Tourism is proud to continue its mission of showcasing the region’s rich cultural diversity through immersive food experiences. Our 2025 culinary tour lineup will spotlight immigrant and minority-owned businesses, providing visitors with authentic flavors, cultural storytelling, and hands-on demonstrations that celebrate global culinary traditions.

For 25 Years, We’ve Been More Than a Tour—We Are Food Culture

For 25 years, I have devoted my knowledge, expertise, and passion to promoting culture through food. What started as a mission has become a movement—Culture Generation is not just about tours; it’s about preserving stories, traditions, and the deep-rooted connections between food and identity.

Culture Generation was built on years of hard work, trust, and authentic relationships with BIPOC communities and food businesses. Our approach isn’t just about showcasing restaurants—it’s about uplifting minority-owned businesses, amplifying cultural voices, and ensuring that heritage is honored through immersive culinary experiences.

We could never be just another tour operator. We are more than that—we are food culture.

Planned Tour Stops & Experiences:

Thai Cuisine Experience

 Chontong Thai Cuisine (Thailand)

A Taste of Peru

San Fernando Roasted Chicken Restaurant & Market, featuring a Peruvian food demonstration

Somali & East African Flavors

Zain Bakery and Restaurant (Somalia)

African Market Experience

Tawakal Market (Somalia/Kenya) with a traditional food demonstration

Mexican Culinary Tour

Las Delicias Panaderia Bakery & Las Palmas Restaurant (Mexico)

Thai Fusion Dining

Mango Thai Cuisine & Bar (Thailand)

Ethiopian Coffee Tradition

Star Coffee Restaurant, featuring an authentic African coffee-making demonstration

Somali Coffee & Market Culture

Kappa Coffee & Mall of Africa (Somalia)

Street Tacos & Mexican Pastries

Taqueria Jacarandas & Las Delicias Panaderia (Mexico)

Japanese Comfort Food

Masea’s (Japan)

Salvadoran Heritage Feast

Pupuseria Cabanas & Las Palmas Restaurant (El Salvador)

Asian Flavors & Cooking Traditions

Ginger Palace, featuring a live food demonstration

 Each tour fosters economic growth, cross-cultural understanding, and appreciation for immigrant-owned businesses. With community partnerships and grant support, we will continue expanding in 2025!

SIGN UP FORM

Tour Registrations Cost $35 to Cover Expenses and Food

A Southeast Asian Culinary Journey for All Your Senses

Saturday - March 29, 2025

10 AM - 2 PM

Discover Kent’s hidden culinary treasures with Taste of Kent: Taste of Community, a chef-led tour exploring the city’s vibrant immigrant food scene. Experience the traditions, stories, and recipes passed down through generations as you stroll through bustling Asian markets, fragrant Indian spice shops, and an inviting Filipino bakery.

The tour concludes with an authentic gourmet lunch at a mom-and-pop restaurant reminiscent of the lively food hubs of Bangkok. As one of the most diverse cities in the U.S., Kent is home to a thriving immigrant community, where global flavors converge to create an unparalleled culinary landscape.

 Reserve your spot today!

Explore the vibrant flavors and rich traditions of Little India on this culinary tour, where you’ll savor classic dishes like aromatic biryani, sizzling tandoori, and an array of traditional sweets. Dive deep into the culture and history behind each dish, making your dining experience a journey through the heart of Indian cuisine.

Kent Culinary Tourism – Explore Ethnic Markets & Restaurants

Aromatic Trails – Indian Spice Market & Persian Cultural Lunch

Saturday - April 26, 2025

10 AM - 2 PM

Join Chef Christina Arokiasamy for an unforgettable journey into the bold flavors and timeless traditions of Indian and Persian cuisine.

The Little Spice Shop: Explore an aromatic paradise featuring turmeric, garam masala, cardamom, lentils, chutneys, and more. Learn expert tips on using and storing these essential ingredients.

Byblos Mediterranean Market: Discover the key ingredients of Persian cuisine, from saffron and pomegranate molasses to za’atar and sumac. Receive curated recipes to recreate dishes like kebabs, shawarma, saffron pilafs, and creamy hummus.

Gourmet Persian Lunch: Enjoy a specially curated meal featuring flavors from Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, and Israel.

This tour offers a deep dive into the ancient world of spices, flavors, and cultural storytelling. Reserve your spot today!Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm April 26th, 2025

Sweet Sour Salty Spicy Tasting Thailand in Kent

Saturday - May 31st, 2025

10 AM - 2 PM

Explore the vibrant Thai markets of Kent with a chef guide, where you’ll learn the secrets behind balancing Thai flavors—sweet, sour, salty, and spicy.

Taste authentic dishes like Pad Thai, green curry, and tangy som tum (papaya salad). Learn how key ingredients like fish sauce, palm sugar, tamarind, and kaffir lime create harmony in every dish.

Immerse yourself in the aromas of lemongrass, galangal, and Thai chili paste while gaining deeper insight into authentic Thai flavors.

This guided tour offers a deeper understanding of authentic non Americanized Thai flavors, perfect for food enthusiasts. Reserve your Thailand cultural adventure spot today!

Thai Chili Restaurant

Savor Latin Flavors – A Quaint Latin Market Locals Love and a Venezuela Café

Saturday - June 28th, 2025

10 AM - 2 PM

Explore the vibrant Thai markets of Kent with a chef guide, where you’ll learn the secrets behind balancing Thai flavors—sweet, sour, salty, and spicy.

Taste authentic dishes like Pad Thai, green curry, and tangy som tum (papaya salad). Learn how key ingredients like fish sauce, palm sugar, tamarind, and kaffir lime create harmony in every dish.

Immerse yourself in the aromas of lemongrass, galangal, and Thai chili paste while gaining deeper insight into authentic Thai flavors.

This guided tour offers a deeper understanding of authentic non Americanized Thai flavors, perfect for food enthusiasts. Reserve your Thailand cultural adventure spot today!

Cuisine and Culture of Afghanistan

Saturday - July 19th, 2025

10 AM - 2 PM

Dive into the rich food traditions of Afghanistan, where time-honored recipes and vibrant flavors bring its culture to life. This unique tour offers a window into the heritage, warm hospitality, and bold tastes that define Afghan cuisine.

Spice Market Exploration: Begin your adventure at a bustling local spice market, where the air is filled with the aromas of cardamom, cumin, saffron, and coriander used in Afghan cooking. Learn about dried fruits, nuts, and grains commonly used in Afghan cooking, and gather inspiration to bring these authentic tastes to your own kitchen.

Afghan Bread Store: Visit a local Afghan bread shop and watch traditional bread-making in action, from fluffy naan to crisp bolani.

Conclude the tour with a visit to a local Afghan restaurant and indulge in beloved dishes like kabuli pulao (spiced rice with raisins and lamb), mantu (steamed dumplings), ashak (herb-filled dumplings topped with yogurt and meat sauce), and aromatic kebabs. 

This tour provides a deeper connection to its culture and community. Reserve your spot today!

Flavors of Ukraine – A Culinary and Cultural Experience

Saturday - Aug 23th, 2025

10 AM - 2 PM

Discover the heart of Ukrainian cuisine through its time-honored dishes and rich traditions. Savor classics like borscht (beet soup), varenyky (dumplings), and holubtsi (stuffed cabbage rolls), each reflecting Ukraine’s agricultural heritage and love for bold, comforting flavors.

Explore Kent’s Eastern European markets, stocked with authentic ingredients like buckwheat, dill, sour cream, smoked sausages, and rye bread. Learn how these staples bring Ukrainian flavors to life in the Pacific Northwest.

More than a meal, Ukrainian cuisine is a connection to culture and community. Whether you’re rediscovering familiar tastes or exploring something new, this tour offers a true taste of Ukraine. Reserve your spot today!

Taste of Europe, Kent WA - Kiev Cake

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT OUR TOURS

Jan & George Wilson
Hi Christina, we want to thank you for the wonderful day of cultural enlightenment and lovely lunch you provided. George and I thoroughly enjoyed your tour and delicious lunch. You exposed us to so much that we never knew nor understood previously along with shopping opportunities and nice restaurant right here in Kent.We have registered for your June 29th Tour and look forward to other tours later if space is available once we better understand our personal schedule. Thanks again for sharing your expertise and time. Regards, Jan and George Wilson
June L Creson & Randy Knight
We wanted to express our deep appreciation for your very creative and interesting tour of Kent's cultural treasures. Each stop was informative and interesting and showed us many things we were unaware of. Having lived/worked in Kent for several decades prior, then moving away for the past 5 years, we were impressed by the culinary treats we experienced. Also, we had many food items unobtainable in our region and were overjoyed to purchase those items during our tour. I would highly recommend this to, not only visitors to the Kent area, but to those living there. Often there are hidden treasures under one's own nose. Thanks for the reveal!
Rhonda B.
Hi, Christina – and thank you again for such a wonderful tour and extended lunch for our group, it was fun and informative, and I feel very lucky to have participated. Personal thanks also for the autographed copy of the Malaysian Kitchen and the jar of curry powder. My husband’s eyes lit up when I brought those in last night, and I’m sure we will be picking our 4rst recipe to try as soon as I get back from my trip.Thanks for the experience and fabulous lunch (whose leftovers provided today’s lunch!).Take care!
Jeff Powell
Christina,Thank you for an amazing day exploring Kent and all the amazing things you introduced us to—including stink beans! I’ve cc’d the rest of our group. We all had even more fun than we had thought we would and learned a ton. The work you’re doing is of immeasurable value. Thank you again!

WELCOME TO THE TASTE OF KENT

OUR MISSION

At Culture Generation, our mission is to foster a deep connection, education, and engagement among the public with the rich and diverse cultural heritages of immigrant and minority communities in King County. We are committed to the preservation and promotion of these unique cultures through comprehensive heritage arts programs. By focusing on the culinary traditions that define these communities, we strive to ensure the continuity of food culture, celebrating and safeguarding it for future generations.

We believe that through understanding and appreciating the nuances of different cultures, we can cultivate a more inclusive and diverse society. Our programs are designed not just to educate but to inspire a sense of belonging and appreciation among all community members, thereby reinforcing the cultural identity and vitality of our immigrant and minority populations. In doing so, we aim to build a community tapestry that is rich in history and united in its diversity, ensuring that these cultural legacies are cherished and continued by succeeding generations.

I am excited to introduce you to SeaTac Culinary Tourism, a project I hold close to my heart – which allows me to share with you the immigrant ethnic markets, bakeries, local spice shops and mom and pop restaurants in Kent, Washington.

Christina Arokiasamy

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