February 13, 6:00 P.M. Demo & Dine: Breakfast for Dinner with Chicago’s Kasama Presented by BentoBox
February 13, 2024 06:00 PM
Experience the Daytime Menu of this Trend-Setting Filipino Café
25 11th Ave, New York, NY 10011, USA
This tiny bakery and modern Filipino eatery from husband-wife chef couple Timothy Flores and Genie Kwon took the Windy City by storm when it opened in 2020. Located in the East Ukrainian Village neighborhood in Chicago, it quickly gained followers for its daytime menu with signature (and Instagrammable) laminated dough pastries and sought-after breakfast sandwich. The talented duo also caught the attention of the producers of The Bear, in which the mighty café was prominently featured in season two.
During this event, guests will be greeted with a welcome cocktail followed by a demonstration of two of the eatery’s most talked-about daytime dishes.
General Admission: $95
MENU
Welcome Cocktail> Hennessy, Angostura, Pineapple, and Calamansi
Ham–Cheese Danish with Sliced Serrano Ham, Raclette, and Black Pepper Gastrique
Kasama Breakfast Sandwich with Longanisa Sausage, Steamed Egg, and American Cheese on a Potato Roll
Ube–Huckleberry Basque Cake
Alcohol generously donated by Hennessy
About Timothy Flores and Genie Kwon:
Tim Flores grew up just outside of Chicago with his parents, who immigrated from the Philippines in 1975. His first experience in professional kitchens was polishing dishes at GT Fish & Oyster between college semesters in Iowa. After graduation, Flores returned to Chicago and transitioned to GT’s kitchen, where he met his future wife and business partner, Genie Kwon, who ran the restaurant’s pastry wing. Kwon, a native of New Orleans, graduated from Newbury College’s culinary management program in Massachusetts. By the time she found herself working alongside Flores, Kwon had cut her teeth at Flour Bakery & Café, Nobu 57, and Eleven Madison Park.
In 2014, Flores moved on to work as a line cook at Senza while Kwon served as the pastry chef at BOKA and netted a Jean Banchet Rising Pastry Chef of the Year award. In 2016 they helped open Oriole–a fine-dining restaurant that earned two Michelin stars in its first year.
In 2018, Flores and Kwon left to conceptualize a space of their own. After two and a half years, they built that space in the Ukrainian Village and named it Kasama, meaning “together” in Tagalog. Kasama is a reflection of both Genie’s and Tim's culinary backgrounds as a bakery and restaurant that serves modern Filipino food inspired by the food Tim grew up eating.
Tickets to events held at Platform at Pier 57 by the James Beard Foundation cover the cost of food, education and a unique dining experience. Meals are prepared by culinary masters from all regions of the United States and around the world. Unless otherwise stated, alcoholic beverages are provided on a complimentary basis and are not included in the ticket price.
James Beard Foundation events permit guests age 21 years and older to attend events where alcoholic beverages are served.