On Thursday, August 29, 2019, we hosted an impromptu bibimbap pop up party as an ongoing effort or promote and discuss food and culinary justice. There is a story about bibimbap originating from community cuisines, “during busy harvest seasons, when they [farmers] had no time or convenience to serve the meal properly, the farmers’ wives would bring abundant ingredients together with what others had brought. They would serve it along with the rice as a community, sharing the food. The variety of food sources ensured that diversity in tastes and nutrients was maintained and balanced well” (Korean Functional Foods, Kun-Young Park).

Local artist, DJ Sir Oliver provided the music, while Skid Row People’s Market and Skid Row Coffee prepared the dish. Accompanying the Bibimbap meal, a dance party emerged, people moving to the Hip Hop and Reggae grooves with stomachs and hearts filled. This medley of community engaged and accessible activities ensure the exercise of our mental, physical, spiritual, emotional and social lives—an act of food and culinary justice, and message about healthy neighborhood.