Chew The Scene, Festival News, Press Releases

San Diego’s Premier Asian American Food Event Returns to Celebrate Culinary Storytelling

October 24, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Carmela Prudencio, media@sdaff.org

SAN DIEGO, October 16, 2023

San Diego’s Premier Asian American Food Event Returns to Celebrate Culinary Storytelling

October 16, 2023—Pacific Arts Movement (Pac Arts) presents the 24th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival (SDAFF) from November 2 – 11, 2023, the largest showcase of Asian and Asian American cinema in North America. As a delightful addition to this year’s festival, Pac Arts presents “CHEW THE SCENE,” San Diego’s premier Asian American food event, which will take place on November 10th at the newly renovated Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego in La Jolla. This culinary extravaganza will feature tastings from over a dozen of San Diego’s top AAPI chefs, restaurants, and vendors, all showcasing their unique takes on Asian American cuisine. The event will follow the San Diego Asian Film Festival’s awards presentation, where we will be honoring the festival’s top films. 

The culinary celebration immediately follows the San Diego Asian Film Festival’s filmmaker awards. An independent jury selects winners in categories like Narrative Feature, Documentary Feature, and more. The George C. Lin Emerging Filmmaker Award is given to a first-time feature filmmaker who embodies the spirit of George C. Lin, former Program Director of the San Diego Asian Film Festival who passed away in 2008. Additional awards at the festival include the Digital Pioneer Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, and Audience Award for new feature films. These honors celebrate excellence in filmmaking and pay tribute to influential figures in the industry.

Culinary Delights from the Finest AAPI Chefs, Restaurants, and Vendors: This year’s event promises an exquisite culinary experience, featuring tastings from over a dozen of San Diego’s top Asian and Asian American chefs, restaurants, and vendors. These established maestros and rising stars  will present their unique interpretations of Asian American cuisine and personal food journeys through culinary storytelling.  

Participating Restaurants: Some of the finest establishments in San Diego’s culinary scene will be joining us for this spectacular evening, including:

• Crab Hut
• Crazy Duck
• Fan-Fan
• Kingfisher  
• Kusina 
• Lia’s Lumpia 
• Malahat Spirits
• Snoice 
• Sovereign Modern Thai Cuisine
• Taste of Hunan
• Zen A Modern Asian Bistro 
• And more exciting participants to be announced!

Exclusive Access to “FORMATIONS” by Kelly Akashi: As an added bonus, event attendees will enjoy free admission to the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego’s latest exhibition, “FORMATIONS” by Japanese American artistKelly Akashi.  Akashi’s art is a captivating exploration of form and material, blending traditional craftsmanship with contemporary perspectives. FORMATIONS promises to immerse visitors in a world of unique sensory experiences and provoke thought-provoking conversations about the intersection of art, culture, and the human experience. 

Empowering Young Storytellers through Reel Voices: Proceeds of the Chew The Scene gala provides crucial support for Pac Art’s Reel Voices high school documentary filmmaking program, which centers on youth storytelling. Attending this extraordinary event not only treats your palate to unforgettable flavors but also contributes to the empowerment of the next generation of storytellers.

Pac Art’s keystone educational program, Reel Voices  is a high school documentary filmmaking initiative that focuses on empowering young filmmakers to tell their stories. This program provides opportunities for students to learn and develop their filmmaking skills, including pre-production, production, and post-production processes. Through Reel Voices, students gain hands-on experience in creating documentary films, often centered on themes relevant to their lives and communities. The program not only fosters creativity but also helps students explore important issues and narratives, providing a platform for their voices to be heard through the medium of film.

Tickets and Information: Don’t miss this opportunity to savor the finest Asian American cuisine and celebrate the vibrant tapestry of our communities. Tickets are available now at sdaff.org. Get ready for a night of culinary discovery, cultural celebration, and cinematic excellence.

Additional Information:

• Event: CHEW THE SCENE Gala
• Date/Time: Friday, November 10 at 6:00 pm
• Location: Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego in La Jolla
• Tickets: https://sdaff.org/2023/special_events/chew-the-scene 
• Celebrating Asian and Asian American culture through culinary storytelling
• Enjoy culinary tastings from over a dozen of San Diego’s top AAPI chefs, restaurants, and vendors, showcasing their takes on Asian American cuisine. The event immediately follows the San Diego Asian Film Festival’s awards presentation.
• Interviews available: For interviews with chefs, filmmakers, actors, or festival staff and a list of available screeners, please fill out a media accreditation form and contact media@sdaff.org.
• Link to use in your story: sdaff.org