Iraq War anniversary remembrance with Enemy Kitchen, Tea, and IVAW

Enemy Kitchen, Tea, & IVAW: Iraqis, Iraq veterans, food, tea, reflection, remembrance, & reconciliation

• March 18th 3PM to Sundown
• 3PM to Sundown: Enemy Kitchen Food truck
• Sundown: Tea Performance
• Milo's Pita Place
• 6310 N Western Ave (between Rosemont Ave & Devon Ave) 
• Chicago, IL 60659 Neighborhood: West Rogers Park

This sunday from 3PM to sundown in remembrance of the start of the Iraq War in 2003, Iraq Veterans Against the War is collaborating with Iraqi-Jewish artist Michael Rakowitz on his ongoing project Enemy Kitchen. This newest phase of the project shares the recipes and foods of Iraq with different public audiences through a food truck staffed by Milo's Pita Place owners Jawher Shaer and his two sons and Iraq Veterans Against the War members. 

At sundown Aaron Hughes will perform Tea an ongoing dialog that traverses a variety of landscapes. From the tea sipped on in a Chicago based Iraqi restaurant, to a quaint coffee shop, to a cage in Guantanamo Bay, to a motor pool in Iraq; tea is not only a favored drink but a shared moment that transcends cultural divides and systems of oppression. That is not meant as a clichéd utopian statement, but as a reminder of a shared humanity that is so often overlooked. Come to sit, sip tea, and share.

“We were born in Iraq, we do Iraqi food, and we have a lot of respect for the veterans who fought there, so we are happy to be involved in this project, which we find very interesting ... For instance, Mike [Rakowitz] says Aaron [Hughes] makes great Iraqi tea and he will do this at the truck, which to us is surprising that he would have any interest. For us, tea is mandatory, in every house, after every meal. It is our custom. Now, to have an American soldier make us Iraqi tea? I’m dying to have some.” - Milad, Jawher Shaer's eldest son, quoted in a Time Out Chicago article.