Some 41 Asian American chefs unite for immigrant rights at the Tiger Moon Market

**Historic Gathering of Asian American Chefs Comes to Chicago This Monday, November 3**

The largest gathering of Asian American chefs in Chicago history is happening next Monday, November 3, at the Ramova Theatre in Bridgeport. This exciting event was organized by Ed Marszewski of the Marz Community empire, who managed to bring together some 41 chefs (and counting) in just three weeks following a roundtable gathering at Maxwells Trading earlier this month during Chuseok, the Korean autumn harvest festival.

During the roundtable, conversations floated around the idea of organizing similar cultural events. When someone mentioned a night market, Marszewski spoke up: “All our cultures help inform what the city’s like,” he said. “And this is a way to introduce our cultures to different people. Food tears down boundaries and creates understanding.”

He continued, “Whether you like it or not, you’re on the front lines putting our cultures out there to the rest of humanity as immigrant communities. Why don’t we do a fundraiser for immigration rights groups and the ACLU, so we can get some people to help represent those who are being kidnapped, and educate and support all potential kidnapping victims?” And so it began.

The Ramova Theatre gladly offered to host the event, and every chef Marszewski asked said yes. He also secured enough sponsorship deals to cover food and production costs, allowing 100 percent of the proceeds to go directly to organizations such as Red Line Service, ACLU of Illinois, Organized Communities Against Deportation, the National Immigrant Justice Center, and the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR).

Normally, on that night, I’d be hosting Monday Night Foodball, the Reader’s weekly chef pop-up at Thattu. But this time, chef Margaret Pak was invited to participate, and the paper was invited to set up a table. As a result, Monday Night Foodball is preempted for this occasion. I’ll be there handing out Reader swag and Foodball schedule flyers because we’ll be back in action the following week. Pak will be serving tasting portions of tamarind shrimp and coconut rice.

The night promises more than just incredible food. There will be a karaoke lounge and DJs spinning all night, along with complimentary beverages from Marz, the Ramova, Bartesian, and the Coquetel Collective.

Joe Fontelera of Lincoln Square’s Boonie’s, who will be preparing adobo chicken feet, shared why participation matters so much. “As a Brown person of an immigrant family, it feels really scary to say or do anything that directly challenges what’s been going on in our communities lately,” he said. “The Tiger Moon event has created a space where we can be united in the face of the terrible things that are affecting our communities while also still uplifting and celebrating the joy and beauty that our communities color the world with. There is resistance in joy, especially when we’re being terrorized into feeling like we need to stay at home and make ourselves invisible again.”

Ethan Eang Lim of Hermosa will also be there with nom pka, a Cambodian lotus flower cookie. “The current immigration enforcement strips our civil rights of due process,” he explains. “This year marked the 50th anniversary of remembering the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge and its involvement with the genocide. It is important to maintain a check and balance of power, as outlined by our constitution, to prevent further escalation.”

Among the many reasons Lim is a Foodball veteran — and one of the coolest dads around — is his continued dedication to these community events. If you’re missing your weekly Monday pop-up fun in Avondale, other Foodball veterans will be in the house too. That includes:

– Tita Tootsie’s with their chopped cheese
– Akahoshi serving classic ramen
– Palita Sriritana of Pink Salt offering gaeng keow wan gai (green curry chicken with kabocha squash)
– Haru Haru presenting fresh tuna chamchi kimbap, mayak rice, Chilee Oil, and tortilla furikake with tomato kimchi
– Kimski serving pajeon

The entire lineup is incomparable, the cause righteous, and the vibe will be joyful and defiant.

**Event Details:**
**When:** Monday, November 3, starting at 6 PM
**Where:** Ramova Theatre, 3250 S. Halsted, Bridgeport, Chicago

Set your notifications and come out for a night filled with incredible food, music, and community purpose.

And just for good measure, here’s a sentiment shared in many languages—because this cause is global:
*fersetan dengan es, ไอ้น้ำแข็ง, chết tiệt đá, 他妈的冰, ファックアイス, pak yelo, बर्फ को भाड़ में जाओ, ចុយម៉ែ,* and *아이씨 개새끼들.*
Or, as one politely declares in English: **Fuck ICE.**
https://chicagoreader.com/food/monday-night-foodball/tiger-moon-market-ramova-theatre-asian-food-immigrant-rights-fuck-ice/

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