Hainanese Chicken Rice has been a symbol of gathering and celebration in my mom’s family growing up. This dinner is an homage to my grandparents, this dish, and my itch to host a meal that feels thoughtful and warming for everyone coming to spend time. Beyond just a “pop-up” meal, I see this as an art piece of sorts as well, painting an image of that warmth through caring for those we cook for.
Each ticket gets you a seat at a family style (shared plates) dinner of Hainanese Chicken Rice, paired with my grandparents’ signature ginger garlic sauce, and mo mo cha cha, a coconut dessert I make for all the big gatherings (because my family loves it so much.)
Hope to see you there, dinner’s almost ready.
Note: This is a plated, family style (shared plates) meal, consisting of various ingredients and poultry. For this event, we are unable to allow adjustments for dietary preferences, restrictions, or allergies.
If you have more questions, feel free to reach out to us at chinatown@welcometochinatown.com. Please arrive to your dinner promptly at 6pm as respect to our team and the meal. Plus, latecomers might miss a good joke and chicken first dibs!
100% of your “additional contribution” will go towards Welcome to Chinatown, ensuring Chinatown stays open for generations to come. Think of it as tipping the staff at the restaurant for all their work lifting Chinatown up :-).
Menu:
— Hainanese Chicken
Buddhist Chicken from a family-owned Chinatown butcher at 47 Division Street, gently poached with pandan, ginger, and garlic. Served family-style with kirby cucumbers.
— Bwee Chin
A “snowball” of Hainanese chicken rice and por por’s ginger garlic sauce, inspired family picnics my grandmother hosted in Prospect Park in the 1970s.
— Kurng
A family recipe ginger garlic sauce, not your average “ginger scallion.” Ginger, garlic, sesame oil, lemon, Hainanese Chicken Broth
— Broth
Hainanese Chicken broth with watercress and wood ear mushroom
———————
— Dessert: mo mo cha cha
Chilled coconut milk soup with herb jelly, tapioca pearls, taro, sweet potato, and brown slab sugar.
About:
About the artist:
Jenny Acosta is a Hainanese, Puerto Rican, Irish, New Yorker and unofficial silly goose. A multidisciplinary artist and designer who explores the meaning of home through the lens of food in her work. She has worked with teams like Sir Kensingtons, Welcome to Chinatown, and Union Square Hospitality Group, and is a former line cook at Bonnie’s Brooklyn. She holds a BFA in Interdisciplinary Sculpture from Maryland Institute College of Art.
What is Hainanese chicken rice?
Hainanese Chicken Rice originates from Wenchang / Singapore and features gently poached chicken with pandan, ginger, and garlic. The poaching broth and rendered chicken oil is then used to make the rice. Key dipping sauces like sweet soy sauce, ginger garlic and chili sauces complete the dish.