Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center

Queering Biryani

Monday, May 20
6:30–9:30 pm
at The Ruby, 2507 Bryant Street, San Francisco, CA 94110 (map)

Queering Biryani is a cooking class and supper club, hosted by Zara Ahmed, a queer/trans Pakistani cultural practitioner and creator.

To “queer” the iconic South Asian spicy, ricy dish “biryani” means to worship the magical burst of spice and comfort that a bite of biryani provides, keeping inclusivity and accessibility in mind (which is why we’re highlighting an adaptable vegan recipe).

At this event, Zara will hold space for an all “queer and trans” group while offering a cooking demo for vegan biryani, followed by a collective meal. The evening will include a discussion grounded in food as ancestral medicine, and participants will go home with a house-made biryani spice blend!

Zara Ahmed (they/them) is a non-binary Pakistani cultural practitioner based on the unceded land of the Ohlone people (Oakland, California). Zara is passionate about food justice and amplifying ancestral wisdom through storytelling, healing spaces, and community building.

Please select a performance

Sliding Scale: $22–$44

This program is presented by the Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center as part of the 27th United States of Asian America Festival (USAAF).