Peter J. Kim is an American food museum director and social entrepreneur. He served as the Founding Director of the Museum of Food and Drink,[1] a nonprofit museum in Brooklyn, New York.[2] Kim is the host and creator of Counterjam, a food and music podcast on the Food52 Podcast Network.[3]
Peter J. Kim | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | B.A., Brown University
J.D., University of Pennsylvania Law School Master II, Institute d'études politiques de Paris Master II, Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne |
| Occupation | Founding director |
| Organization(s) | Museum of Food and Drink (MOFAD) |
Early life and career
editThe son of South Korean immigrants, Kim grew up in Danville, Illinois. After graduating from Brown University, he worked on Food Stamps outreach.[4] Kim served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Cameroon, where he founded an arts nonprofit called L’Art de Vivre. Kim studied law at the University of Pennsylvania Law School and earned master's degrees from Sciences Po and the Sorbonne in Paris.[5] Kim worked at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP in a group that specialized in international dispute resolution.[6]
Museum of Food and Drink
editIn 2012, Kim left his law firm position to work as the Museum of Food and Drink's first director.[7] Kim initially worked unpaid out of a 150-square-foot office in the East Village, where he headed a volunteer team.[8] Kim and his team sought to create a major museum that combined multi-sensory experiences with food history, culture, commerce, and science.[9]
In 2015, Kim opened MOFAD's first brick-and-mortar space in Williamsburg, Brooklyn,[10] where it hosted exhibits on flavor science,[11] Chinese American restaurants,[12] Bangladeshi restaurateurs,[13] chickens, and feasts and festivals.[14] The museum featured an open kitchen that served dishes related to its exhibits.[15] The museum's advisors include David Chang and Questlove.[16]
In 2019, Kim announced MOFAD's plans to open "African/American: Making the Nation’s Table" in partnership with The Africa Center. Curated by Jessica B. Harris, a food historian, it is the first exhibition in the United States to celebrate black chefs, farmers, and food producers. It aims to show how the African Diaspora has shaped American food culture. The exhibition will feature the Ebony Test Kitchen, which was saved from demolition and acquired by MOFAD.[17] The exhibition's opening was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[18]
Counterjam
editKim is the host and creator of Counterjam, a show on the Food52 Podcast Network that celebrates culture through food and music.[19] Notable guests include Roy Choi, Margaret Cho, Kelis, Jarobi White, Dan the Automator, Ego Nwodim, Femi Kuti, and Made Kuti.[3]
References
edit- ^ Metro. "Restoring the chicken's glory at the Museum of Food and Drink". Metro US. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ^ Alyssa Shelasky (1 May 2017). "The Absolute Best Kids' Museum in New York". Grub Street. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ^ a b "Counterjam". counterjam.food52.com. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
- ^ "The Lawyer Who Quit Big Law to Work For a Food Museum". news.bloomberglaw.com. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ^ "All In The Industry Episode 135: "Peter Kim of MOFAD"". Heritage Radio Network. 15 March 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
- ^ "The Lawyer Who Quit Big Law to Work For a Food Museum". news.bloomberglaw.com. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ^ Grimes, William (20 October 2015). "Museum of Food and Drink Takes a Look at Flavor". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ^ "From Idea to Cereal Puffer to Real-Life Installations, Here's How to Build a New Museum". Vox Creative. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ^ "A Food Museum Grows In Brooklyn". NPR.org. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ^ Barone, Joshua (7 September 2015). "Museum of Food and Drink to Open Permanent Space in Brooklyn". ArtsBeat. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ^ Grimes, William (20 October 2015). "Museum of Food and Drink Takes a Look at Flavor". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ^ "Winning over hearts and minds one pu pu platter at a time". The World from PRX. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ^ Metro. "Knights of the Raj reveals the glory and pain of Indian food". Metro US. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ^ "MOFAD and SAVEUR Join Forces for a Food Photography Exhibit". Saveur. 18 March 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ^ "Museum of Food and Drink". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ^ "Museum of Food and Drink's new exhibit explores African-American culinary history". Time Out New York. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ^ "African/American: Making the Nation's Table with MOFAD and The Africa Center". MOLD :: Designing the Future of Food. 31 October 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ^ Fabricant, Florence (15 June 2020). "Ways to Support Black Farmers, Restaurants and Nonprofits". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ^ "Music Meets Food in Your New Favorite Podcast". Food52. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.