Culinary Connections

Social Good Through Good Food.

welcome@welcomecos.org

Colorado Springs, CO

A new kind of community.

Refugee-status chefs prepare traditional meals… you experience new cultures.

Purchase Meal Here

Every meal supports job training, certification, and fair wages for our chefs.

Each purchase builds understanding, creates opportunity, and invests in a more connected Colorado Springs.

September

2025

Feature Cuisine:

Cuban-Brazilian Fusion!

Cuban main dish and side with Brazilian dessert!

Pick-Up Date

10/18, 430-530pm

First United Methodist Church

420 N Nevada Ave, Colo Spgs, CO 80903

Our Menu

We offer a seasonal menu that reflects the skills of each participant cohort.

This October, we’re showcasing Cuban and Brazilian flavors and culinary traditions!

Cuban Regular Meal with Brazilian Dessert – $25

Frijoles Negros con Arroz Blanco (Cuban Black Beans with Rice), Ropa Vieja de Pollo (Cuban Shredded Chicken), Ensalada (Cuban Salad), and Brigadeiro (Brazilian Bonbons)

Cuban Vegetarian Meal with Brazilian Dessert – $25

Arroz Amarillo- (Yellow Rice without Meat), Papas Doradas con Mojo (Golden Potatoes), Ensalada (Cuban Salad), and Brigadeiro (Brazilian Bonbons)

Purchase Meal Here

Culinary Connections is a collective effort.

Built by a team of organizations with deep roots in refugee resettlement, social impact, and community outreach, we combine experience to create opportunities where food and culture bring people together.

This program supports newcomer chefs, promotes economic opportunity, and fosters a stronger, more connected community.

Social good through good food.

Culinary Connections is a platform for women to share their culture with their new communities- while also supporting their families.

Your purchase supports newcomers to the Pikes Peak region, including these Cuban and Brazilian families:

We are thrilled to have our first two-nationality cohort! These chefs worked together to create a menu that reflects both of their cultures.

M is from Cuba and has been in the US for 4 years. She’s the grandma of 2 sweet girls. She loves to see people enjoy the food she prepares.

E is from Cuba. She is the mother of M’s sweet granddaughters. She likes to work out during her free time.

J is also from Cuba and has been in the US for 16 years. She started her own business in wholistic wellness and self-care. Her business is called Afro Roots.

U is from Brazil and has been in Colorado Springs for almost 2 years. She is married. She loves to cook and also enjoys outdoor activities.

About the Collective

Culinary Connections empowers newly arrived refugee and immigrant women by facilitating food handling certification, developing fundamental business skills and providing paid opportunities to share their culinary heritage. Through Culinary Connections, we foster cross-cultural understanding, build meaningful connections, and create pathways toward economic independence for women.
We envision a community where food is more than nourishment—it’s a bridge between cultures. By supporting immigrant and refugee chefs, we strive to create sustainable opportunities, celebrate heritage, and strengthen connections between neighbors through shared meals.
Culinary Connections is a collaborative effort between community organizations in the Pikes Peak region to support women of incredible culinary talents through the sharing of traditional dishes from their cultures.