UPCOMING FOOD TOURS
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.



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!

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!

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT OUR TOURS
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 Taste of Kent/Taste of Community, 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

Kent, Washington is home to a vibrant and diverse immigrant community. Over a quarter of the city’s population is foreign-born, making Kent the top 10 most diverse cities in the nation. The Asian immigrant community in Kent is particularly large, with residents originating from countries like Vietnam, India, China, Malaysia, Thailand, Burma, and Korea. Kent is also home to immigrants from Afghanistan, Ukraine, Somalia, and Mexico.
When you come on a Taste of Kent culinary tour with me, you will discover new flavors, as many ethnic markets offer up specialty ingredients not usually found in mainstream grocery stores. The markets introduce you to new ingredients and help expand your cooking skills through exposure to different produce, herbs, spices, condiments, and ingredients that inspire creativity in the kitchen! It is community building while making you a diverse cook and a more informed global citizen.
Colorful spice shops in Kent that replicate the ones in India. Thai restaurants in Kent dish up Wok Fried Noodles that taste as authentic as the noodle dishes in Bangkok. Sit down to enjoy a bowl of delicious Pho Noodle soup as if you had traveled to Hanoi Vietnam and savor fresh breads and pastries cooked in traditional tandoor made with love by the Afghan community baker.