The Conflict Kitchen restaurant was founded back in 2010, when Social Business's sister site, Trend Hunter, covered the Pittsburgh shack-like shop as a "controversial" innovation. The SocialBusiness.org editorial team decided to revisit the restaurant, which only serves ethnic food that the United States is in conflict with, because of an interesting interview published recently on Rabble.ca, a Canadian publication for progressive journalism.
Founder Jon Rubin (Dawn Weleski is the other founder) talked about wanting to foster social and political engagement. He said that sometimes that has to start with crisis in order to effect change. At the moment the Conflict Kitchen restaurant is focusing on food from Afghanistan specifically although in the past other places emphasized have been North Korea, Iran, Cuba and Venezuela.
Contact Information
Conflict Kitchen website
Conflict Kitchen on Facebook
Conflict Kitchen on Twitter
Warring Ethnic Food Offerings
The Conflict Kitchen Restaurant Supports Social Engagement
Trend Themes
1. Social Engagement - Creating innovative ways to foster social and political engagement through food offerings.
2. Ethnic Conflict - Addressing ethnic conflict by solely serving food from countries the United States is in conflict with.
3. Controversial Innovation - Exploring the potential of controversial and impactful innovations in the food industry.
Industry Implications
1. Restaurant - Opportunities for restaurants to promote social and political engagement through their food offerings.
2. Ethnic Food - Addressing the demand for ethnic food from countries in conflict to raise awareness and spark conversation.
3. Social Activism - Utilizing food as a tool for social activism, promoting dialogue and awareness about international conflicts and political issues.