<article class="content"> <p>The first two dinners at <a href="https://www.helloneighbor.io/hello-neighbor-casa-brasil-first-community-dinner">Casa Brasil</a> and <a href="https://www.helloneighbor.io/hello-neighbor-scratch-f-b-first-community-dinner">Scratch Food &amp; Beverage</a> were such a success that Hello Neighbor decided to partner with Scratch Food &amp; Beverage again this past October to host a community dinner featuring Nepalese food.</p> <p>Our home chef, Tika, was born in Bhutan and lived there for the first 9 years of her life before her family fled to Nepal in 1992. She and her family lived in a refugee camp in Nepal for 18 years before they were resettled to the United States in 2010. The dinner reflects the fusion of Bhutanese and Nepalese foods that Tika grew up with.</p> <p>Executive Chef Chris O’Brien and home chef Tika took a trip together to Pittsburgh’s very own Nepali Bizarre to shop and to learn more about the traditional spices used in Nepalese cooking. Tika worked alongside the staff at Scratch Food &amp; Beverage to make Sel Roti, a traditional ring shaped doughnut, and noted that she didn’t think most Americans could handle the spice of true Nepalese food. She was very excited by the opportunity to be in the workforce again, even if only for a few days. She is taking ESL classes in hopes of improving her English and giving herself more opportunities in the job market.</p> <p>The event featured two seatings, and both sold out several days before the event. Guests were encouraged to share family recipes and discuss ways that Pittsburgh could be more inclusive to refugees, while listening to classical Nepalese music and enjoying the four course meal. As different dishes were brought out, Tika made her way to different tables to greet guests and ask them about the food. She was happy to answer questions about her life and even bond with other mothers who have young boys like herself.</p> <p>Tika loves to garden. She grows tomatoes, eggplant, coriander, chilis, onion, and tulsi leaves which she uses as an herbal medicine. She hopes that her garden will get bigger over time. Tika and her family joined Hello Neighbor in 2018!</p> <p>She says that Hello Neighbor has allowed her to meet new people and share experiences with them. She is very thankful for the opportunity to work in a commercial kitchen and meet so many new American friends. She says the opportunity really helped to build her confidence.</p></article>