Jim Kenney Cooks Cajun

As mayor-elect of Philadelphia, Jim Kenney has a lot to do. Figure out how to fix the schools, solve crime and send all of the PPA agents on permanent vacation (we wish). Well, tomorrow, Saturday, December 4, the man who’s about to take over the most powerful seat in the city is taking a break from all of that boring stuff to focus on something more, shall we say, savory.

Partnering with one of his long-time favorite chefs, the future mayor will cook Andouille, turkey and oyster gumbo along with pecan pie in the public City Kitchen at Reading Terminal Market with Bill Beck of Beck’s Cajun Cuisine. From noon to 1 p.m. the pair will demo preparation of the food, and presumably Mr. Kenney can learn to cook it at home, along with everyone who participates. It’s part of a weekly- to- bi-weekly series RTM has premiered to bring local celebs into the kitchen to cook some of their most cherished market dishes.

Beck says, “Not only does Kenney have political chops, he has culinary chops, too. I hope he doesn’t show me up tomorrow.”

The demo is free but what’s even better is that if you can’t attend in person, you can watch from home via Periscope. You can tap in through the market’s Twitter feed. You can even follow along with them using Beck’s online recipes.

While you’re there, you might want to float the idea by Kenney to convince the state to ease up on those parking tickets, you know? Especially if he’s sampling some New Orleans Hurricanes as he cooks.

Reading Terminal Market [Official]