Plate of Nations Signature Dine-Around Grand Prize is Private Northeast African Cooking Class

The secrets of creamy hummus, crispy falafel, flaky sambusas, and the mysterious spices of northeast Africa will be revealed to one lucky Plate of Nations 2016 passport contest winner. By collecting stamps at participating Plate of Nations restaurants for two weeks in March and April, diners will qualify for a private cooking class at cozy Bananas Grill in Rainier Valley, where Somali owner Farah Ismail, his family, and staff will share their culture and passionate culinary insights into Mediterranean-inspired Halal cuisine.

Plate of Nations, the signature dine-around event of the MLK Business Association, runs March 25th – April 10th at restaurants along Martin Luther King Jr. Way in culturally rich Rainier Valley. Fourteen local venues with global menus offer $15 or $25 meals to share with two or more people, showcasing some of Seattle’s best international cuisine.

Now in its sixth year, the event last year drew diners from 37 Seattle neighborhoods, 25 cities within Washington, and 5 states, selling thousands of specials and bringing tens of thousands of dollars in additional revenue into Rainier Valley.
A passport to venues is offered, encouraging diners to collect stamps and qualify for prizes like gift certificates from participating restaurants, and a private cooking class with a participating restaurant chef. Additional contests roll out on Facebook throughout the event.

This year diners can experience a wide variety of traditional and vegetarian culinary delights including savory chicken shawarma at Bananas Grill, Shiro traditional Ethiopian stew at Cafe Ibex, Central Vietnamese specialty noodle soup Bun Bo Hue at Bun Bo Hue Hoang Lan, Mandarin Chinese beef in black bean sauce at Foo Lam, Kahlua bread pudding with agave caramel at Huarachitos Cocina Mexicana, Northern Vietnamese-styled lotus, mango, and papaya salad at Huong Duong Sunflower, Somali Halal roasted goat at Jazera, Cantonese honey garlic pork spareribs at Joy Palace Restaurant, Eritrean lamb and fish tibs at Momona Cafe, Asian-styled lamb curry at Olympic Express Halal Restaurant, General Tsao’s chicken at Othello Wok Teriyaki, traditional Vietnamese twice cooked pork and egg in clay pot at Rainier Restaurant & BBQ, Lao papaya salad with Blue Crab at Thai Savon, and old skool east coast field roast subs at The Original Philly’s.

Plate of Nations was launched in 2011 by the MLK Business Association to create a festive event where MLK restaurants can showcase some of their favorite dishes with special menus that invite customers to experience their cultural traditions.

Plate of Nations 2016 is sponsored by the MLK Business Association, City of Seattle’s Office of Economic Development, Vulcan, Rainier Valley Community Development Fund, HomeSight, The Stranger, Northwest Polite Society, and Penniless Projects.