Culture, Identity & Lunar New Year!

Join us for a Lunar New Year gathering centred around food, culture and conversation. Together we’ll make red bean and ube Tong Yuen while Beatrix Ong and Chris O’Leary, creator of FatBoy Zine, reflect on identity, creativity and food!

This is an informal, hands-on workshop combined with a live conversation, offering space to connect, share stories and celebrate Lunar New Year through food and dialogue.

At the end of the session, have a little taster of what has been made and take uncooked tong yuen away in a box as a gift - or for yourself to cook later!

You will have the option of booking either the 2pm slot or the 4pm slot. Please make sure you book your ticket for the one you want!

🎙️ Speakers

London-based art director Chris O’Leary is the founder and creator of cult periodical, FatBoy Zine- a London mag celebrating Asian food and food culture.

“Chris began working on FatBoy Zine with his partner Emily Leonard in 2018 and the magazine has since been featured in numerous design publications including It’s Nice That and Elephant Magazine. Chris has a very specific and personal view of what kind of food magazine he wants to make and calls FBZ “a greedy attempt at documenting a very small part of Asian food.” It’s also a diary for Chris, one that allows him to recount and celebrate the food he had growing up in Hong Kong and the Philippines.” outofprint.ph

Beatrix Ong MBE is an award-winning designer, creative director and business leader whose acclaimed eponymous footwear label was internationally recognised for its modern, distinctive approach to British design. Her work spans fashion, interiors, and cultural collaborations with global institutions including the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Design Museum.

🌸 About the Series

Culture, Identity & … is a series by Beatrix Ong MBE, founder and host of Being Creative Being Asian (BCBA) at Soho House. Through live conversations, it celebrates people who have taken unconventional creative paths, sharing honest stories of self-discovery, heritage, and artistic freedom.

🏛️ About the Venue

The ESEA Community Centre is a charity founded in 1985, dedicated the serving the East and South East Asian community by providing a physical space that serves as a local hub for support with essential services and access to social, wellbeing and community activities.

💬 Practical Info

📍 ESEA Community Centre | Sunday 22 Feb | Choose 2pm or 4pm session

• Check-in and doors, 15 mins before session
• Tong Yuen making begins at 2pm or 4pm.
• Talk will be begin after instructions and whilst Tong Yuen making!
• The event runs for approximately 1.5 hours.
• Unallocated seating. Please arrive early to settle in.
• Have a little Tong Yuen taster at the end of the session!
• Take away your own made Tong Yuen in a box to gift or keep for your self!
• For accessibility needs, please contact the venue directly: https://www.hackneychinese.org.uk/contact-us

💛 Come for the chats — stay for the community!

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