What’s on the menu…
Vegetable Biryani | Light Hands-On Cooking
A fragrant, celebratory rice dish layered with warming spices, aromatic herbs, and colorful vegetables. Guests will get hands-on experience exploring the techniques behind building flavor and creating the signature layers of this beloved Pakistani dish.
Chicken Karahi | Chef Demonstration
A beloved Pakistani chicken dish featuring a rich, savory tomato-based sauce infused with fresh ginger, garlic, green chilies, and warming spices. Traditionally prepared in a deep, wok-like pan called a karahi, this flavorful dish is known for its bold aromatics and vibrant, comforting flavors.
Following the cooking and demonstrations, guests will enjoy both dishes reception-style at our kitchen islands, with plenty of opportunity to continue the conversation, share impressions, and connect over the flavors and stories of Karachi.
Karachi: Stories from the City & the Kitchen - $50
This event is part of our Guest Storyteller series.
Food has a way of connecting us to places, people, and traditions–even when we're thousands of miles away.
Join Maryam Ahmed and Ryan Smolar at PLAYTE Kitchen for an evening exploring Karachi, Pakistan, through food, photographs, and stories of the people who shape this vibrant city and its food system.
For Maryam, Karachi is home to generations of her family. As a first-generation Pakistani American, she grew up with the flavors and traditions of her Abu’s (father’s) hometown which became a shared language with her elders. Returning to Karachi as an adult offered a chance to reconnect with those familiar foods, discover new ones, and experience the city through a different lens.
Ryan brings another perspective through his professional work with the Urban Resource Centre and the Karachi Farmers Market. He'll share stories of community-led efforts to protect neighborhoods, support local food producers, and strengthen connections between food, land, health, and livelihoods. From traditional cheesemakers to innovative chefs and farmers, we'll meet some of the people shaping Karachi's food culture today.