We鈥檙e celebrating a few things at The Port of Call with chef Renee Touponce and bar manager and mixologist, Jade Ayala: Pride Month, a second James Beard Award nomination for Renee and Renee's birthday.
We鈥檙e also gonna eat. . .and dance along with during a drag performance at The Port of Call. It鈥檚 a fundraiser for the to protect LGBTQ+ rights 鈥� something Renee and Jade are passionate about.
Drag brunches and dinners aren鈥檛 usually about the food, but when Renee鈥檚 in the kitchen, they鈥檙e about the queens and the food. We talk with Renee and Jade about the restaurant鈥檚 bi-weekly drag dinner series and how they鈥檙e showing up for the LGBTQ+ community through their work.
And, the has moved out of a basement and into a light-filled space on Orange Street. Producer Tagan Engel talks with Bennie Saldana, Support Services Coordinator, about the new space and the center's expanded programs for youth and adults. The new program we鈥檙e particularly excited about is the inspiration of ally, Diana Henderson.
Diana cooks and organizes monthly community dinners and bakes a birthday cake so everyone feels celebrated. She鈥檚 also known for her 鈥渇ree mom hugs.鈥�
You鈥檒l also hear from community dinner participants describing what it means to them to share a meal with chosen family. New to the area? Attending a dinner is a great way to find connection within the LGBTQ+ community in a dedicated space.
Plus, Chantal Tafari, chef/owner of Likkle Patty Shop in Windsor, makes vegan Jamaican patties that 鈥渟lap,鈥� and producer Katrice Claudio can鈥檛 recommend them highly enough. She talks with Chantal about what makes her patties special and you鈥檒l learn about ackee, the official fruit of Jamaica.
GUESTS:
- Rene茅 Touponce: Executive Chef at and in Mystic, Conn. . () () ()
- Jade Ayala: Bar Manager and Beverage Director at both and in Mystic, Conn.
- Sea Queen Performers: ft. Dro Lopez Fierce ()
- Bennie Saldana: Support Services Coordinator, () also () and ()
- Diana Henderson: Volunteer community dinner cook and co-host. Giver of "free mom hugs"
- Attendees of the NHPC Community Dinner (March)
- Chantal Tafari: Chef-owner of , a plant-based Jamaican patty shop and bakery in Windsor, Conn.
BONUS: Listen to Where We Live's interview with Juancarlos Soto, Executive Director of the New Haven Pride Center.
This show was produced by Robyn Doyon-Aitken, Meg Dalton, Stephanie Stender, Katrice Claudio, Tagan Engel, and Meg Fitzgerald, with help from Sabrina Herrera, Francesca Fontanez, Janae Spinato, and Martha Castillo on Social.
Special thanks to everyone in the LGBTQ+ community and their allies who shared their stories with us and allowed us to document their celebrations.
Join the conversation on , , , and email: seasoned@ctpublic.org.
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