Giving Thanks for Food

Chef Cristina Martinez prepares chicken tinga and corn tostadas to celebrate Latine Heritage Month.

November in the United States ends with the biggest cooking day of the year: Thanksgiving. It’s a time to appreciate family and friends, as well as the warm, home-cooked meal waiting at the table!

Penn Cooks celebrates LGBTQ History Month with Chef Liz Alpern, co-founder of Queer Soup Night and co-author of The Gefilte Manifesto.

In the past few years, I’ve covered a fun project at the University of Pennsylvania’s dining halls. Penn Cooks brings diverse chefs and their delicious creations directly to hungry, curious students.

Aaron McCargo Jr., author of Simply Done, Well Done, poses with the Penn kitchen team.

The event also features panel-style discussions that go beyond the recipes and explore how the guest chefs’ unique backgrounds have intersected with their culinary careers. Culture and community blend into a tasty, fulfilling experience for students who may be living very far from home.

Aaron McCargo Jr. talks barbecue with Penn students.

Penn Cooks indeed! Students try out a new bagel recipe with an expert guide.

Students chat with Ellen Yin, restauranteur and James Beard Award nominee.

Chef Martinez shares her experiences as both a chef and an immigrant rights advocate.

Dining hall food these days looks much more appealing than it used to!