March 19–21, 2026 | Brooklyn & Manhattan
January 19, 2026 (New York, NY) — AAPI Food & Wine, the Oregon nonprofit organization dedicated to elevating Asian American and Pacific Islander voices in food and wine, announces its New York City debut with AAPI Food & Wine: NYC, a three-day immersive experience taking place March 19-21, 2026.
Following the sold-out success of its flagship Oregon festival, AAPI Food & Wine brings its expanded national mission to New York City, connecting celebrated AAPI chefs, winemakers, sommeliers, and cultural leaders from both coasts through tasting experiences and storytelling.
The New York events are anchored by NA:EUN Hospitality, led by Chef Junghyun “JP” Park and Ellia Park, the team behind Michelin-starred Atomix, recently named No. 1 on North America’s 50 Best Restaurants list. Spanning Manhattan and Brooklyn through NA:EUN’s Atoboy and Naro, in collaboration with Hana Makgeolli – a Brooklyn-based producer preserving and reimagining Korea’s centuries-old fermentation traditions – the NYC series creates a cultural dialogue between the Pacific Northwest and New York, illustrating how AAPI creators are redefining American food and wine through vision, technique, and craft.
This weekend is made possible through the generous support of The Asian American Foundation, Travel Portland, VinePair, and Visit McMinnville.
Event Programming Highlights
Opening Night | Thursday, March 19, 2026 Hana Makgeolli | Brooklyn, NY
AAPI Food & Wine: NYC opens with an intimate evening at Hana Makgeolli, celebrating Korean American craftsmanship and fermentation culture. Hosted by AAPI Food & Wine, Opening Night features Chef Peter Cho (Han Oak, Portland) in collaboration with Alice Jun (Hana Makgeolli) and Dave & Lois Cho (CHO Wines).
Guests will enjoy a one-night-only menu of Korean American dishes accompanied by Hana Makgeolli’s acclaimed Korean rice wines and CHO Wines’ traditional-method sparkling wines. This opening sets the tone for a weekend centered on identity and unapologetically Asian American storytelling.
Collaboration Dinner | Friday, March 20, 2026 Atoboy | Manhattan, NY
Hosted at Atoboy, this collaborative dinner brings together an all-star lineup of AAPI culinary talent, including the culinary team at James Beard Outstanding Restaurant Langbaan led by Chef Earl Ninsom, and James Beard Outstanding Bakery winners Kyurim Lee & Jin Caldwell of JinJu Patisserie, in collaboration with the Atoboy culinary team led by Chef Grace Kim.
The multi-course menu will be accompanied by AAPI winemakers redefining Oregon’s Willamette Valley, including Dr. Madaiah Revana of Alexana Winery, Dave & Lois Cho of CHO Wines, Renée St-Amour of Hundred Suns Wine, and Sashi Moorman of Evening Land Vineyards.
East Meets West Tastemaker Tour | Friday, March 21, 2026 Naro at Rockefeller Center | Manhattan, NY
The series culminates in a walk-around tasting experience at Naro, uniting leading AAPI chefs, winemakers, and sommeliers. Designed as an interactive, guided tasting, guests can meet with the makers coast to coast.
Across multiple sessions, attendees will meet producers from Alexana Winery, CHO Wines, Evening Land Vineyards, and Hundred Suns, alongside east coast AAPI sommeliers with dishes served by celebrated Portland and New York chefs.
The day includes one (1) industry-only and media session, followed by two (2) consumer sessions, offering the public rare and direct access to the voices shaping the next era of American wine.
Tickets & Access
All tickets for AAPI Food & Wine: NYC launch January 20, 2026 via OpenTable Experiences.
- Event Tickets
Pricing ranges from $75-$225 depending on event and seating.
A Growing National Platform
“As AAPI Food & Wine expands beyond Oregon, our goal remains the same: to create meaningful spaces where AAPI voices lead the conversation in food and wine,” said Lois Cho, Founder and Executive Director of AAPI Food & Wine. “New York City represents a powerful next chapter that is rooted in honoring the stories that connect our communities coast to coast.”
Looking Ahead: May 2-3, 2026 in McMinnville
Following its New York City debut, AAPI Food & Wine will return to Oregon on May 2-3, 2026, marking a meaningful evolution of its annual flagship festival. After three formative years hosted in Dayton, Oregon, the festival’s move to McMinnville reflects its growth.
McMinnville serves as cultural context for the weekend, underscoring the festival’s mission to surface stories that have long existed beneath the surface, such as the historic Chinese Underground beneath the Old Elks Lodge. These spaces serve as reminders of the essential role Asian American communities have played in shaping the region’s agricultural labor, food systems, and culinary traditions.
The multi-day gathering will once again bring together AAPI chefs from Portland, including Xiao Ye and Gado Gado as VIP Featured Chefs, and AAPI winemakers from the Willamette Valley. Additional programming details and participating talent will be announced in the coming months.
Early Bird Tickets for AAPI Food & Wine: McMinnville will be released January 20, 2026.
A portion of the proceeds will benefit Unidos Bridging Community and the Asian Heritage Association.
About AAPI Food & Wine
Founded in 2023 by Lois Cho (Executive Director of AAPI Food & Wine and CEO/Owner of CHO Wines), AAPI Food & Wine is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit dedicated to fostering diversity and representation in the traditionally Eurocentric food and wine industry. Through festivals, education, and national collaborations, the organization celebrates Asian American and Pacific Islander excellence while engaging the next generation of food and wine enthusiasts.
For updates, follow @aapifoodandwine or visit www.aapifoodandwine.com. For partnerships or media inquiries, contact info@aapifoodandwine.com.
