August 26, 2019 “Comfort Kitchen” Coming to the Upham’s Corner Comfort Station
Now nearing completion of a $1.4 million restoration and rehabilitation of the 1912 Upham’s Corner Comfort Station in Dorchester, HBI is pleased to announce a partnership Biplaw Rai and Nyacko Perry, who plan to open Comfort Kitchen, a daytime café and pop-up dinner experience featuring local food entrepreneurs.
Biplaw Rai and Nyacko Perry of Dorchester are joining with HBI to open the doors of the Columbia Road property near Upham’s Corner in May 2020.
Photo Credit: Christopher Huang
Rai, a Dorchester resident, is currently managing partner of the Shanti Restaurant Group and is co-founder of Dudley Café in Roxbury. He is passionate about food justice and sustainability and sits on the board of directors of Commonwealth Kitchen, a collaborative community providing kitchens with business assistance.
Photo Credit: Christopher Huang
Perry is an organization development consultant and founder of Yin Consulting. She is committed to Comfort Kitchen being a place for the local community and will be establishing a community board and other engagement initiatives to fulfill that commitment. “We use food as a mechanism for building community,” said Perry.
Photo Credit: Christopher Huang
She and Rai have engaged Kwasi Kwaa to serve as head chef. Kwaa is the local chef behind the Ghanian street food pop-up Chop Bar and will hold regular dinner service as well supporting development of other local food entrepreneurs.
Perry said their goal is to create an active community space, starting with a restaurant space that they would operate and make available to restaurant operators and chefs who are experienced and ready to open their own space but want to test their concept first.
“Our pop-ups will celebrate historically marginalized communities and rising chefs that are making a difference in our communities. We seek to build community and cross-cultural understanding through food experiences,” she said.
For a full summary of the project, follow these links:
PHOTO CREDIT TO CHRISTOPHER HUANG