Culture Kitchen

Culture Kitchen is a social enterprise that provides a platform for immigrant home cooks to share their culinary traditions. Founded in San Francisco by Stanford alumni Abby Sturges and Jennifer Lopez, the company connects these cooks, referred to as "master cooks," with food enthusiasts eager to learn about authentic ethnic cuisines and the stories behind them.

The business operates through in-person cooking classes and a subscription box service. The classes are hosted in various venues, such as community kitchens and restaurants during off-hours, across the San Francisco Bay Area. This model empowers self-taught chefs, particularly women, by providing them with a platform to teach and gain recognition for their skills. For customers outside the Bay Area, Culture Kitchen launched a Culinary Explorer program, a monthly subscription box that includes a master cook's recipes and the necessary non-perishable ingredients to recreate the dishes at home.

The core of the business is the cultural exchange it facilitates, focusing on the in-depth explanation of ingredients and recipes passed down through generations. The company has featured a variety of cuisines, including Mexican, Thai, and Ukrainian.

Keywords: cooking classes, ethnic cuisine, home cooking, cultural exchange, food subscription box, immigrant empowerment, authentic recipes, social enterprise, culinary education, San Francisco food scene, global cuisine, food kits, hands-on cooking, traditional food, community kitchen