The Duwamish Curve Cafe is staffed by two graduates of the Project Feast’s kitchen basics program.
The cafe is open 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Tukwila Community Center and offers deli-style sandwiches, soups, salads and fresh baked treats.
The cafe is managed by Project Feast; apprentices work under the direction of Chef Daniel “Buck” James.
Two Project Feast apprentices, Taghreed Ibrahim and LemLem Kidane, staff the deli, helping to determine the menu and then preparing all the food, under the direction of Chef Daniel “Buck” James.
Taghreed, a native of Iraq, and LemLem, an Eritrean who was born in Sudan, arrived in the United States in 2013 and 2011, respectively.
They’re stories are ones of disruption caused by war in their homelands. They also share something else – a love of cooking.
Taghreed, who lives in Kent, moved to Dubai in 2006 because of the war in Iraq. She was there with her husband and children.
During the day she would watch cooking channels and teach herself to cook. She would bake after her kids went to bed.
“Baking makes me so happy,” she said.
Her goal is to find a job in a bakery and become a bakery chef.
LemLem returned to Eritrea after the fighting ended. She enjoys cooking, having learned her culture’s cuisine from her mother – Sudanese and Eritrean. She lives with her husband and two children.
On a busy day, they’ll serve 30 to 35 customers.
“We absolutely love it,” said Taghreed.
