“Have You Eaten Yet?” | AAPI Dine and Drag Fest
For many in the AAPI diaspora, this simple question carries deep meaning. It’s a quiet check-in, a gesture of care, and a reminder that we are held. In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, join us for our AAPI Dine and Drag Fest, Have You Eaten Yet?, a celebration of food as love, culture, and connection. Experience an evening filled with incredible LGBTQ+ AAPI vendors, community, and flavorful storytelling—all hosted by Bertha Vanayshun.
We’re also proud to partner with Drag History Hour for a stacked lineup of drag performers representing the rich diversity of the AAPI diaspora, including artists with roots in Japan, the Philippines, Taiwan, India, and the Caribbean.
Talent
Host: Bertha Vanayshun
Bertha Vanayshun is Brooklyn’s Premiere White Woman of Color, the she/he that makes ya he-he and New York’s Intrusive Thot. She is the current reigning Breakthrough Artist at the NYC Glam Awards, creator of Drag History Hour and Drag History Minute.
DJ: SRI
SRI is a South Indian DJ, producer, and vocalist based in Brooklyn, crafting futuristic club music through a diasporic lens. Blending Desi melodies with percussive global club rhythms, her sets move between hip-hop, baile funk, jersey club, and kuthu, pulling from nostalgia while pushing the sound forward. Expect hypnotic vocals, heavy drums, and bass-driven energy built for the dancefloor.
Abhijeet is the 7ft tall Bollywood Barbie. She is a drag performer and event producer in Chicago by way of Mumbai. You can catch her across stages the city and at her award-winning independent productions at Dim Sum & Drag, Boots, Dream Devis, and Jai Ho
Angel Au is a trans Chinese-American drag performer based here in NYC. She is known for her glamorous looks, show-stopping performances, and loves making people smile. Her drag is a love letter to trans and femme asian experience. Angel has been featured in publications like Paper Magazine, Them, Allure, DAZED Magazine and the cover of Harper’s Bazaar KZ. She has also opened for Chappell Roan twice!
Malai is a fixture of the city’s South Asian drag ecosystem. She is a co-producer at Yuva and BrunchnBrawl and the creator behind events like Divas Brunch, Badnaam, and the Queer Diwali Ball. Her performances often blend Bollywood nostalgia, prosthetic illusion, and absurdist humor.
MAUVE is a Filipino-Canadian Drag King, Empath, and Glamazon. He is a show producer, costume designer, and fine artist based in Brooklyn. MAUVE is the co-producer of FAGNET, Brooklyn’s award winning Drag King show, SEX CHANGE, the gender subversive transsexual romp, and A+: The Pan Asian Drag Revue. He has performed on the Bushwig stage, at the Brooklyn Museum, and at Sasha Velour’s Nightgowns.
Shia Ho is a Japanese-American drag queen based in NYC – producing, performing, and hosting shows all throughout NYC. Most of her shows are focused on highlighting Asian culture and people within many nightlife spaces. Shia proudest achievement is producing and hosting America’s largest all-AAPI drag festival, Made In Asia. When she is not performing, she can be seen curating unique queer parties throughout NYC.
Vendors
Bibingka Mama is a Pinay Drag Queen, Baker, Songwriter, and Entertainer, serving Filipino cuisine with a funky twist. Their signature dish, Bibingka, is an ooey-gooey, coconutty Filipino rice cake dessert. After perfecting the family recipe, Bibingka Mama realized that most Americans weren’t familiar with Bibingka and decided to begin building an empire to share the Filipino culture through food and entertainment.
Boomipop is a New York–based Taiwanese-American snack brand bringing night market flavors into everyday life. Founded by queer AAPI chef and creatives, its debut product—popcorn chicken popcorn—reimagines a beloved street food classic as a take-anywhere snack. Boomipop blends Taiwanese roots, bold flavors, and thoughtful design to celebrate identity, community, and the joy of snacking.
Chôm’s Nước Chấm is a Vietnamese dipping and pour over sauce that is used in a variety of dishes. The sauce is born out of Cindy’s love for their food, culture, family, and heritage. During a time of turmoil and uncertainty, Cindy aims to create a space where people can feel safe, joyful, and enjoy delicious food.
At Kopitiam, “coffee shop” in Hokkien, we serve as a daily gathering space introducing visitors to Nyonya cuisine. The goal of chef/owner and James Beard Semifinalist Kyo Pang, a third-generation Nyonya, is to continue carrying forward Pang’s family’s recipes in New York City and preserve the fading tradition in cooking dishes the way her ancestors did.
Nine Treasures Creamery 靈寶冰坊(Língbǎo Bīngfāng) (靈寶 refers to the “Numinous Treasures” in Taoism—mystical scriptures and energies that unlock spiritual power- known for bridging heaven and earth). Inspired by Asian heritage, where every flavor is a journey through taste and memory through inventive flavor combinations. Our mission is to not only evoke nostalgia from sharing a dessert with your grandmother, but to create a really joyful future forward and delicious concept.
Pocha 89 began with two friends cooking for our community. Today, we’ve expanded those gatherings into public pocha pop-ups —inspired by Korean late-night spaces designed for relaxing and socializing. We created this pop-up to bring that same welcoming environment to our communities. Specializing in bringing hard-to-find, viral dishes to life, Pocha 89 is a place to connect over a shared love of food, try exciting new flavors, and make new friends.
Nestled in the heart of the Lower East Side of New York City, Sen Saigon is NYC’s only vegan and kosher Vietnamese restaurant. Our mission is to reintroduce the vibrant, soulful flavors of Vietnam through a plant-based lens, honoring both tradition and innovation in every dish. Led by Chef An Nguyen Hawks, who hails from Vietnam and has called New York City home since 2014, and her husband Erik, Sen Saigon reimagines the dishes that An grew up loving. Inspired by her own journey into veganism, Chef An crafts meals that are as innovative as they are deeply rooted in Vietnamese culture.
