On May 18th, Tender Table came to Zone 3 to recognize and celebrate three stories about food, identity, and community. Dharani Persaud, a queer Guyanese writer, kicked off the event sharing insight into two beloved childhood dishes: peda and pinetart, which she made to share with the attendees. Shirley Jones Luke spoke next about learning how to navigate food insecurity and how her upbringing impacts her actions today. The Boston educator and poet brought doritos, fruit, and soda to share, reflecting a typical childhood meal when food was low in her household. To wrap up the event, Pinar Yaşar, a Turkish-Kurdish storyteller, shared her story growing up stuck between two cultures and her dish of dolmas represents her bicultural identity and upbringing. 
Photos by Ally Schmaling // Audio by Kevin O’Connell

On June 8, Tender Table returned to Zone 3 to recognize and celebrate two more stories about food, identity, and community. Yara Liceaga Rojas is a writer, cultural administrator, and educator from Puerto Rico. She shared the meaning behind the beloved little sandwich for special occasions, Sangüichito de mezcla.

Juleen Eun Sun Johnson, born in Seoul, South Korea who spent her formative years in Valdez, Alaska, spoke about the past and present merging together with food and her first journey back to Korea. She made and shared her recipe for Kimchi, which is a way for her to join her American identity with her Korean identity. 

Photos by Tyahra of AfroCentered Media  // Audio by Kevin O’Connell

Tender Table returned for its final night of celebrating stories about food, identity, and community at Zone 3 on October 5th. Three speakers spoke of their sweet, savory, sour, and bitter ways that food and cooking has been woven into their lives and shared homemade dishes that corresponded with their stories.

Paloma Venezuela is a dramatic writer and screenwriter who shared a monologue from season 3 of her comedic web series, The Pineapple Diaries. She accompanied her monologue with a dish of beans, rice, and plantains. *Palomas recording will be released with Season 3 of The Pineapple Diaries!

Eson Kim, whos “relationship with her mother is paved in kimchi”, spoke about the perceptions of the fermented food, the process of walking away from kimchi and reintroducing it back into her life after college, and her mother’s reaction when she finally asked for the recipe. Eson brought her homemade kimchi. 

Katytarika Bartel is an artist, poet, educator, and community organizer. Similarly to Eson, Katytarika spoke of her relationship with her mother and cooking. She brought a Tom Kha soup which she immediately knew was the dish she wanted to share because of its interesting role it has played in her life. Katytarika shared poetry which spoke of belonging, in betweenness, and the idea of third space as a queer and mixed race Thai American.

Photos by Ally Schmaling // Audio by Kevin O’Connell