Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and the Somerville Arts Council are inviting the community to NibbleFest, a celebration of Nibble Kitchen’s five-year anniversary at Bow Market, on Sunday, June 30, from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Bow Market (entrance by 345 Somerville Ave).

To celebrate five fantastic years, Nibble Kitchen will host pop-ups from some of their favorite Chefs-in-Residence, past and present. In addition to delicious food, there will be live music courtesy of Juan Carlos Ruiz, and activities including the Test Your Nose! game, and face painting.

Culinary Pop-Ups at NibbleFest are scheduled to include:

• Boukan’nen Afro-Haitian Cuisine
• Brazil Green (serving vegetarian and vegan food)
• Elena’s Bakeshop (Colombian baked goods and sandwiches)
• BanglaAdda Bengali Cuisine
• Petra Jordanian Cuisine
• Riti’s Kulfi Ice Cream
• Taquisimo Tacos
• Nagomi Bento
• Carolicious Gourmet

Upcoming Nibble Events

Now – October 26: Find Nibble Kitchen at the Union Square Farmers’ Market every other week (66-70 Union Square Plaza, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.); Nibble Kitchen will feature two vendors every other week.

June 27: Nibble graduate Edwin Orellana will be selling his gourmet Salvadoran pupusas at the Somerville Fireworks Fourth of July celebration (Trum Field, from 6:30 to 10:00 p.m.). Edwin developed his Dos Manos pupusa business when in the Nibble program.

July 13: Find Nibble Kitchen at ArtBeat (Davis Sq., 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.), one of the largest festivals of the season. Our Nibble staff and chefs will be at the center of the festival on the main Traffic Island, better known as Nibble Island! 

The Somerville Arts Council and the Launch of Nibble 

Nibble was launched a decade ago, as part of Somerville Arts Council’s ArtsUnion initiative, which has transformed Union Square, Somerville through innovative cultural economic development work. Nibble started with Union Square international market tours; next came a blog and then a book. We then added cooking classes, and a culinary entrepreneurship program. Next came Nibble Kitchen, which is located in the heart of Union Square, where our Nibble work all began. 

About Nibble Kitchen- Global Eats by Local Peeps

Nibble is a Somerville Arts Council/City of Somerville initiative that celebrates cultural diversity through food and promotes economic development. Five years ago, Nibble expanded to launch a brick-and-mortar restaurant and business incubator called Nibble Kitchen, which offers a rotating global menu featuring chefs from Somerville’s diverse community.

Nibble Kitchen also offers cooking classes to the public, and serves as home base for Nibble chefs vending at the Union Square Farmers Market and Somerville Arts Council festivals. All chefs at Nibble Kitchen are graduates of the Nibble Entrepreneurship Program. Go to www.nibblesomerville.com for the restaurant schedule, entrepreneur profiles, and much more information about the program. 

Nibble and Economic Development

Since the inception of the Nibble program ten years ago, Nibble graduates have opened a total of six restaurants, including three at Bow Market: Carolicious Gourmet, Taquisimo, and Nagomi’s Bento (to open within the next two months), as well as 10 food businesses. These restaurants and food businesses employ over thirty employees, creating an economic ecosystem that supports Somerville’s diverse population.

Other Nibble participants past and present derive income vending at Nibble Kitchen, as well as vending at Festivals and Farmers Markets, and teaching cooking classes. Nibble also plays a significant role in placemaking by propelling culinary tourism and ensuring that Somerville stays diverse and delicious.

— City of Somerville