
What grows in community is never only ours
It is carried forward
Shared
Season after season
Every bite tells a story. Every table connects spirits. Culture invites dialogue. This event celebrates the rich tapestry of cultural expression through the universal language of food while energizing TASTE for Equity's vision of an inclusive community full of joy.
For one night, Flourish will guide you on a tasting tour through the flavors, stories, and cultures of the Asian American experience.
In America, those traditions have traveled, adapted, collided, and flourished into something uniquely their own. From the Chinatowns that became centers of resilience and belonging, to family recipes reimagined with new ingredients, to the Asian flavors that now influence restaurants, music, fashion, and pop culture, Asian American culture is both deeply rooted and constantly evolving.
Guests will experience a tour of Asian fusion food and drink while highlighting a beneficiary APANO, a nonprofit advancing equity and belonging for Asian and Asian American communities in Oregon through organizing, advocacy, civic engagement, and cultural work via systemic change.
Flourish will ignite the five senses through art, music, food and wine in a night market atmosphere.
At TASTE for Equity, we believe the table can be a place of discovery, connection, and belonging. Flourish is an invitation to taste across cultures, celebrate the influence of Asians in America, and experience how many different stories can come together around one table.
In addition to APANO, proceeds from the TASTE for Equity Event Series also benefit two additional powerful Portland organizations: ELSO Inc., cultivating generations of innovators and problem solvers for local and global impact.and Adelante Mujeres, empowering Latine women and their families to lead.
Seats are limited and this event will sell out. If you’ve been to a TASTE event before, you know. If this is your first time — welcome. This table was made for you.
This event is 21+ only
Please reach out to us with any questions: [email protected]
Featured Chefs

Born and raised in Waiʻanae on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, Chef U’ilaniku’ulei “U’i” Vele brings more than 17 years of culinary experience and a deep connection to her Samoan and Polynesian heritage to her cooking. After beginning her professional journey in Sacramento, she worked her way through kitchens across the West Coast before arriving in Portland in 2015. Her time at acclaimed restaurants, including Departure, The Hoxton, and Yonder, helped shape a culinary style rooted in bold flavors, tradition, and community.
Beyond the kitchen, U’ilaniku’ulei has used her talents to support food-insecure neighbors through mutual aid at local nonprofits. Today, she is the Executive Chef at Departure Restaurant + Lounge by expanding the menu and bringing her food influences to the forefront.

Chef Deepak Kaul’s culinary journey began far from the kitchen he leads today. After studying biology at Boston University, he followed his passion for food, honing his craft in London, San Francisco, and beyond, including acclaimed restaurants like Jardinière. Drawing inspiration from his Kashmiri family heritage and the home-cooked meals he grew up with, Deepak launched Bhuna as a pop-up before opening his Northwest Portland restaurant in 2018.
Chef Deepak quickly earned 2018 PDX Eater’s Chef of the Year. Today, Bhuna celebrates Kashmiri food through personal family recipes, layered regional Indian flavors, and uniqueness that bring the richness and diversity of Indian cuisine to Portland.

Born and raised in Manila, Philippines, Chef TJ Cruz’s culinary journey has taken him from hospitality roles to the kitchens of some of Portland’s acclaimed restaurants, where he honed his craft from sous chef to executive chef. Inspired by Filipino food traditions and a desire to push Filipino cuisine forward, TJ turned his passion for silogs: Filipino breakfast plates, as a pop-up before co-founding Sun Rice with Ken Tran.
Today, Sun Rice has grown into a standalone Portland restaurant celebrating Filipino flavors, culture, and community through a fresh, modern lens and recently celebrating their 1 year anniversary on North Williams. The Other Side is adjacent to the restaurant and is a third space focused on events bringing people together in celebration through food and community.
Chef Sunny Hatch’s culinary journey began in Portland, where he spent 11 years bartending before following his passion for food into the kitchen. Raised in Dallas with a blend of Southern comfort food and Korean flavors, Sunny found a deeper connection to his Korean American heritage through cooking. After learning from local chefs and immersing himself in Korean fried chicken, he created Frybaby, a concept that brings together the crispy, bold flavors of Korean fried chicken with the comfort and soul of Southern cooking.
In 2023, Frybaby was named Eater Portland’s Best New Food Cart and The Oregonian’s Food Cart of the Year. Today, Sunny continues to grow Frybaby in Portland, sharing his unique culinary perspective through inventive dishes that celebrate the intersection of culture, identity, and comfort food.
Chef Lisa Nguyễn ’s culinary journey blends a passion for baking with a deep connection to her Vietnamese American heritage. After beginning her career in visual merchandising, Lisa pursued professional training in baking and pastry, including experience in a Michelin-starred restaurant. Inspired by childhood memories of Vietnamese bakery treats and the chewy texture of mochi doughnuts she discovered in Japan, she launched HeyDay as a pop-up in 2020. Her inventive rice-flour doughnuts feature vibrant flavors like ube, pandan, Vietnamese coffee, and passionfruit.
Today, Lisa continues to bring culture, nostalgia, and creativity to Portland’s food scene with her fresh take on traditional treats. She is founder of HeyDay and co-founder of Mémoire Cà Phê, a Vietnamese American café celebrating the flavors and memories that connect food, family, and community.
Featured winemakers

What began with music and a shared dream grew into CHO Wines, a family-owned winery redefining what Oregon wine can be. Dave Cho discovered his passion for winemaking while performing music at Southern California wineries, eventually moving to Oregon to study viticulture and enology at Oregon State University. After honing his craft at acclaimed Willamette Valley wineries, he and his wife, Lois, launched CHO Wines in 2020.
As Oregon’s first Korean American winemakers, the Chos bring a spirit of innovation to the Willamette Valley, crafting Pinot Noir and sparkling wines that challenge tradition. While Dave leads winemaking and vineyard development, Lois serves as CEO, bringing her entrepreneurial creativity and passion for community to the business.
Together, they also founded the Oregon AAPI Food & Wine Fest to elevate Asian American and Pacific Islander voices in the industry, winning Taste for Equity’s Innovation award in 2024

Akiko Shiba and Chris Wichern bring an international perspective and a hands-on approach to Oregon winemaking. Founded in 2013, Shiba Wichern Cellars is a small, independent winery in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, dedicated to crafting expressive wines that reflect the character of their vineyards. Akiko’s background in winemaking and viticulture in Germany informs her thoughtful, site-driven style, while Chris helps bring their shared vision to life. Together, they focus on small-batch production, sustainable vineyard practices, and letting each vintage tell its own story. Best known for their Pinot Noir, they also produce distinctive white wines, including Chardonnay and Auxerrois.
Through their collaborative approach and commitment to craftsmanship, Akiko and Chris contribute to the diversity and creativity that make Oregon wine country so special.
