By Amy Swain

The Somerville Arts Council’s Nibble Entrepreneurship Program pop-up event brought out the best of Brazilian cuisine through the culinary prowess of Chef Robson Lemos.

On Saturday, November 21, Union Kitchen saw a wild success with Somerville Arts Council’s Nibble Entrepreneurship Program pop-up event. More than one hundred people gathered to taste the culinary offerings of chef Robson Lemos.

Nibble is part of the SAC’s ArtsUnion Project. Earlier this year, they began the entrepreneur program with cooperation from Kitchen Inc. and the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development. The program offers local immigrants interested in a culinary career a platform to further develop their talents while interacting with their community.

The program realizes that the goal of many culinary entrepreneurs is to open their own restaurant. The program assists its chefs in areas such as selecting menus, food sourcing, licensing and financing, while discussing goals that tend to be less risky, such as farmer’s markets and catering events and gaining confidence as career chefs.

The contributions of those involved in the NEP are not lost. Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone commented, “Somerville has become a regional food destination, and our immigrant community is huge part of why we’re increasingly becoming known for our eclectic cuisine. We have residents from all over the world who create authentic cultural experiences through food, which is a boon to diners – and a boon to our local economy. We want to create pipelines for more immigrants to enter the local food landscape.”

Past NEP events have featured chefs from Somalia and Mexico. This week Union Kitchen offered Brazilian fare from chef Robson Lemos, including bolinho de bacalau, empadinha de frango, and kibe, representing tastes of Brazil influenced by Portugese and Lebanese cuisine. Chef Lemos has worked with the SAC in the past, which is no surprise given his broad range of talent and passion.

Aside from beginning his road to food expertise at age thirteen, Lemos has a degree in performing arts – some may have seen him in one of his many acting roles, such as ¿Identidade? on the Somerville Community Access Channel earlier this year, a film he also co-wrote. Next month, Lemos plans to release the film Stars on Christmas, which he produced as part of the Boston Brazilian Theater Group.

“The goal of Nibble Entrepreneurship is to create viable economic opportunities for local communities – especially those who have been historically disenfranchised,” says SAC’s Culinary Coordinator Nick Schonberger, “And to provide rich cultural programing for Somerville – something our residents demand.” The demand was evident in the event selling out. They hope to see similar results at events to come.

Visit somervilleartscouncil.org/nibble for more information and upcoming classes and events.