Venture:
Eat Offbeat
Founders:
Manal Kahi ’15SIPA and Wissam Kahi ’04BUS
Industry:
Food and refugee employment
Venture Type:
For-profit
What is the social or environmental issue being addressed?
The New York metro area has been home to refugee populations for centuries. Many of these individuals have high rates of unemployment and face difficulties integrating into broader New York City life.
Innovation:
Eat Offbeat delivers authentic ethnic meals that are conceived, prepared and delivered by refugees in NYC. Eat Offbeat recruits and trains refugees resettled in the NY area, and builds on their culinary heritage and home-cooking skills to develop an authentic and exciting menu under the supervision of a Head Chef. This provides the refugees with not only employment, but an opportunity to integrate their cultural heritage into the broader local food movement.
Read More:
- ‘Culinary Solidarity’: Refugee Dinners Combat Anti-immigration Sentiment, One Plate at a Time
The Washington Post
June 28, 2019 - The Rise of Refugee Cuisine—a Food-World Trend to Feel Good About
Vogue
August 17, 2018 - Inside Eat Offbeat, the Refugee-Run Kitchen that's Satisfying Adventurous Eaters with a Taste for Social Good
Forbes
July 3, 2018 - New Neighbors, New Considerations
The New York Times
October 4, 2017 - Inside Eat Offbeat, the Refugee-Run Kitchen that's Satisfying Adventurous Eaters with a Taste for Social Good
Forbes
May 12, 2016 - Restaurant Staffs Kitchen with Refugees
CBS News
April 17, 2016 - Refugee Chefs Bring their Recipes to NYC Food Company
AP
April 2, 2016 - 'Eat Offbeat' Startup Employs Refugees Who Cook their Native Cuisine
The Huffington Post
March 8, 2016 - Eat Offbeat: Changing the Narrative around Refugees One Home-Style Meal at a Time
NBC News
February 19, 2016 - Eat Offbeat Brings Refugee Cooking to New Yorkers- and Jobs to Refugees
Newsweek
February 19, 2016 - Ventures Hire Refugees to Harness Talent and Skills
Aljazeera
February 8, 2016