About us

Lutunji's Palate

Lutunji’s Palate is a social enterprise Built with Purpose; Fortified with Love. Back in 2018, Lutunji met with the Pastor of an historic church in South Minneapolis to discuss launching a Charter School for teen parents she developed in partnership with her organization, Voices of Effective Change, GBC. Lutunji blessed him with her signature peach cobbler as a sign of respect and gratitude. He took one bite, and Lutunji’s Palate was born.

He loved it so much he insisted she use their commercial kitchen to create a line of gourmet desserts and that his team would provide all the support she needed for licensure. This was the divine order manifested. In that powerful moment, Lutunji knew that her passion for delicious treats, and the joy they bring, would be the catalyst for her mission to bring effective change to the community.

Impact is literally and figuratively baked into our model. We bake with people and community in mind by partnering with teen and young adult programs, teaching community members about baking and how to run a business. Most importantly, Lutunji’s Palate offers community members not only a place of employment, but a place to “life skill” together, to discover what they are good at and how to pursue their life purpose. Lutunji’s Palate further provides a space in Minneapolis for much needed community healing after the recent racial tensions and pandemic and provides the Elliott Park neighborhood with a Black-woman-owned bakery and community gathering spot. Also, check us out at

Voices of Effective Change

Lutunji's Palate Gourmet desserts are available at North Market located in Camden, Minneapolis Farmers market Annex, Plant-based Popups-locations vary/check events page, Bobby & Steve's, Hy-vee New Hope and East Side Co-op.

Find us at

1400 Park Ave S #1010, Minneapolis, MN 55404

Lutunji’s Palate; Built with purpose, fortified with Love.

As Many Sandwiches as You Can Make

A turkey pastrami order at Lutunji's Palate Bakery & Cafe in Minneapolis

Outside her café in Minneapolis, Lutunji Abram handed Josh Liljenquist a turkey pastrami sandwich on a white plate. He asked the price. Ten dollars. Then he asked if he could get a thousand of them. "Are you serious?" she asked.

Abram told him a thousand sandwiches was more than she could make in a day. Josh changed the order. How about as many as she could make? That, she said, sounded good.

Abram's bakery in Elliot Park began with another dish made for one person. In 2018 she brought a peach cobbler to a meeting with a South Minneapolis pastor. He liked it enough to offer her the use of the church's commercial kitchen. Today her bakery works with teen and young adult programs to teach baking and how to run a business.

Back inside the café, a tied bag sat on the counter. Abram told Josh people were going to love the turkey pastrami. "I threw in some chips as well," she said. Later in the video of their visit, you are leaving the website, opens in a new tab, Josh hands out the meals under an overpass. One man holds his box open, the sandwich still tucked inside.

Visit Lutunji's Palate Bakery & Cafe at 1400 Park Avenue South in Minneapolis.