Where Can You Source Your Food in Philly? -Seng Hong Oriental Market

In this session La Sripanawongsa and David Dettmann will focus on Isaan-style (Northeastern Thai) meals based around an essential and beloved green papaya salad known as som tam in Thai and tam mak hoong in Lao. Seng Hong in North Philly’s Logan neighborhood will be the source for the event’s green papayas, specialty seasonings, and fresh herbs. Come and help make and taste this salad, and try some other popular accompaniments to it on the Isaan table. You’ll also learn some tips about how to find and select Southeast Asian produce in Philadelphia.

La Sripanawongsa is a local educator who was born and raised in Isaan (Northeast Thailand), a region celebrated for its bold and spicy flavors and distinctive ingredients like fermented fish, sour pork, and abundant tropical herbs. Deeply rooted in the rich culinary traditions of Isaan, La has a passion for recreating the flavors of home using fresh ingredients sourced locally. Alongside her lifelong love of food, La has also dedicated over 15 years to education, blending cultural storytelling with a commitment to community and learning.

David Dettmann is a Philadelphia-based food writer and is Associate Director of the Center for East Asian Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. David works in educational outreach and has considerable experience living in and studying China, Central Asia, and Thailand. He is the author of Asian Markets of Philadelphia, a blog that focuses on cooking with the rich offerings from Philadelphia's incredible range of specialized markets that cater to the region's many Asian communities: asianmarketsphilly.com

Space is limited and priority will be given to registered attendees. Tickets will be honored up until 5:20 pm, please arrive by 5:15 pm to guarantee your seat. At 5:20 pm, we will fill open seats. Please email kitchen@freelibrary.org for more information.