I heard about this amazing event called Queer Soup Night, you pay a suggested donation and eat as much soup as you want. What an idea!

Queer Soup Night is a Brooklyn-born queer party with soup at its center.

Each event raises money for a community org, highlights the talent of queer chefs, and nourishes our community by gathering in an atmosphere of authentic inclusiveness.

Our mission is to strengthen local queer communities across the country through sharing space, sharing food and contributing to something bigger than ourselves.

We believe that we are strongest when we are joyful and generous, together.

I just had to be involved somehow. I immediately emailed Liz Alpern and volunteered my help. It took some scheduling but I was asked to contribute a soup to a pride weekend collaboration with Nighthawk Cinema. If you’ve never been, it’s a movie theater where you can order dinner and drinks from the bar. That night, the plan was to screen the movie But I’m a Cheerleader, one of my favorites!

The soup I decided to serve is tinola, a Filipino chicken soup with green papaya, arugula, and ginger. It’s a comforting soup when you’re feeling bad. When unripe, green papaya is boiled, it acts a lot like potato. Usually, the soup is garnished with chili leaves or moringa, but arugula is spicy enough in a pinch. I poached a dozen chickens and pulled the meat off the bones. Then I threw the carcasses back into the broth to keep releasing that wonderful flavor. I spent the day before in the Nighthawk kitchens with chef Blessing and chef Stewart. We had so much fun.

Emily helped me serve up our small bowls of tinola to a hungry crowd. Afterward, we enjoyed the screening and were treated to a surprise Q&A with director Jamie Babbit.

Want to collaborate on an event? I’m down to plan in Oakland and Brooklyn.