Purchase tasty treat and aid breast cancer patients

Photo by Mike Prince

Two chefs are teaming up to create a unique tasty dessert to help raise money for breast cancer patients.

Chef Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon of Kalaya Thai Kitchen on South 9th Street is partnering with Janine Bruno of Homemade by Bruno in a charitable venture of creating gelato push-pops using Thai ingredients.

Each push-pop costs $6, and $1 from every sale will benefit AnaOno, a Philadelphia-area company that produces mastectomy bras. The push-pops will be available for sale on Mother’s Day. 

“As a breast cancer survivor, I am always looking to do things that benefit charities and companies that help women who are battling or have survived breast cancer,” said Bruno, a breast cancer survivor of five years. “AnaOno is a wonderful company helping so many women, and when I approached Kalaya about this collaboration, Chef Nok was very supportive of my mission. We had a lot of fun experimenting with the different flavors, and I’m excited for people to try these truly unique treats.”

Nok said she also recently had a medical scare that spurred her to help with people dealing with breast cancer.

“I recently had a mammogram, and was very worried about a potential breast cancer diagnosis,” said Nok. “Luckily, it was benign and everything is OK, but it was a very scary couple of days, and I sympathize with everyone out there who has to go through this.”

Proceeds will go into a fund that is used to provide newly diagnosed breast cancer patients in need with bras, courtesy of Pink Warrior Advocates & the AnaOno Bra Assistance Service.

The push-pops can be purchased to-go at Kalaya Thai Market at 922 S. 9th St., and for dessert a few blocks away at Kalaya Thai Kitchen at 764 S. 9th St. in the Italian Market neighborhood.

The two flavors are a Chili Gelato Pop — which includes Thai chilies, vanilla extract and fior de latte gelato; and a Tamarind Chili Sorbetto Pop — featuring pure tamarind and Thai chilies.

Bruno said she found solace in cooking shortly after her original diagnosis, which saw her lose her job and more.

“Cooking was the only constant after everything I had gone through,” Bruno said. “It was my therapy, and it gave me excitement and a real sense of purpose.”