Champa Origins Pop Up Dinners Bring Laotain Cusisine to Nashville

I had never had Laotian food before. In fact, I didn’t even know where Laos was when a friend invited me to join her at Champa Origins’ pop up, which prompted a geography lesson on our way to dinner. 

Located in Southeast Asia, Laos sits between Vietnam and Thailand, just above Cambodia. While the country is nearly halfway around the world from Nashville, for the creators of Champa Origins the cuisine tastes like home. Having grown up with their parents cooking meals centered around sticky rice and dishes like papaya salad, their heart is to share those tastes and memories with others. Thus, their slogan is “We want you to eat what we ate.” Of course, we are still in Nashville, so it does come with a bit of a Southern feel.

The night I attended Champa’s pop up dinner, guests gathered around the kitchen and watched as ingredients were chopped, fried, precisely sliced, and assembled. The menu included egg rolls (arguably the best in Nashville), Thum Mak Hoong (papaya salad), fried chicken, Lao style brisket with traditional dipping sauce, and sticky white rice. Oh, and homemade sake! The atmosphere was casual, as friends and food lovers gathered near the kitchen, on the couch, and on the floor around the coffee table in a local home. It felt like a party, like a family friend inviting you into their home for a meal infused with heart and soul, history and heritage. 

Champa Origins is, well, still at its origins. The night I attended, the event was donations based. I am sure this will change as the pop up grows. For now, the best way to get the scoop on where they’ll be next is to follow on Instagram @champaorigins. If you’re a fan of Southeast Asian flavors and unique community experiences, you’re in for a treat!