07/06/2026
Our second Enlightened Eaters Book Talk of the year brought together Slow Food NYC in partnership with Alcove. Featuring Fabio Parasecoli (Professor of Food Studies in the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies at NYU Steinhardt) and his book Gastronativism: Food, Identity, Politics, conversations examined how food—what we eat, how we eat, why we eat, and the ways in which we gather around it—informs identity, belief systems, and cultural expression, as illustrated through the personal narratives and culinary offerings of four featured food producers:
-Iris Yu served her Home Flavor Broth (屋企味湯). Iris Yu is a Chinese American food founder building a CPG broth brand based on the Cantonese cooking techniques she grew up with.
-Meesh Chin served Lo Bak Go Fries. Meesh Chin is the founder of By Meesh, an events and catering brand centered on creating moments that evoke comfort and nostalgia.
-Sammie Riedman served Maw Kaeng Tua (Mung Bean Thai Custard) has spent over ten years engaging with the food system in various capacities—as a farmer, educator, chef, and now food scholar.
-Christina Chin: served a welcome drink upon arrival and Turihamwe (from Burundi) coffee. Christina Chin founded Favor Coffee Company, a roasting company based in the New York metro area, in 2020.
Marisa Alia Malanga, Associate Board Member of Slow Food NYC, moderated the evening’s discussion, guiding a critical dialogue between Fabio Parasecoli’s Gastronativism and the lived experiences of the featured producers. Throughout the program, each producer joined the conversation to reflect on their personal and culinary narratives, offering situated perspectives on food, identity, migration, memory, and cultural belonging. Parasecoli contextualized these exchanges within the broader theoretical framework of his work, drawing connections between individual food practices and larger sociopolitical questions surrounding nationalism, culture, and collective identity. Proceeds from the event directly supported the participating producers, reinforcing the evening’s commitment to sustaining local food communities and independent culinary voices.
