Manolo López and Zhan Chen Honor Loisaida with a Chino Latino Dinner
Dozens of guests enjoyed a seven-course meal that blended Asian and Latin ingredients in dishes that were unexpected yet perfectly combined.
Photography by Alejandro Ramos
Before we called it Dime Square and the Lower East Side, lower Manhattan has always been notorious for being Chinatown and Loisaida. Loisaida is a term coined by Puerto Rican activists, a transliteration of the pronunciation of “Lower East Side.” For generations, the Chinese and Puerto Rican residents have created a neighborhood that harmonizes both Asian and Latin cultures. To honor the Chino Latino communities, chefs Manolo López and Zhan Chen took over Potluck Club to curate a Chino Latino-inspired menu.
In collaboration with Buchanan’s Whisky, Kids of Immigrants, and Nike, dozens of guests enjoyed a seven-course meal that blended Asian and Latin ingredients in dishes that were unexpected yet perfectly combined: Pan Criollo with whipped guava butter, Endive Salad with soursop and carambola macadamia nuts, Cha Siu Empanadilla with pork belly and ginger scallion, Pernil Fried Rice with sofrito, sweet plantain, and scallion, General Tso’s Chicarrón de Pollo with sofrito, sweet plantain, and scallion, Mofongo with shrimp a la criolla, and a Black Sesame Flan Cake.
Hosted by Potluck Club co-owner Cory Ng and Kids of Immigrants founder Daniel Buezo, we raised a glass to those who constantly give back to the community and preserve traditions with Buchanan’s newest offering, Green Seal. Whether we used the toast to try the Green Seal as a shot or sipped it neat, the spirit has unique notes of tropical fruit and spice that celebrate culture and identity.
Photography by Alejandro Ramos
Buchanan’s also offered their signature drinks: the Loisaida Colada with Buchanan’s Pineapple, cream of coconut, pineapple juice, lime juice, pineapple frond, and grated nutmeg, the LaChino Mojito with Buchanan’s 12-Year-Old DeLuxe Blended Scotch Whisky, lime juice, dragonfruit, and mint, and the Buchanita with 12-Year-Old DeLuxe Blended Scotch Whisky, pineapple juice, orange, and pineapple slices.
"For years, Buchanan's has been celebrating Latin luxury and those creating it, and as that boldness and creativity continue to impact mass culture, we want to recognize the new class that continues defining and redefining luxury,” says Linda Lagos-Morales, Brand Director, Buchanan’s Blended Scotch Whisky. “With Green Seal, we wanted to embrace the beat of Latin culture and create more than just a whisky, but a spark for the ritmo latino that pulses wherever and whenever our familia celebrates – a spirit that honors creativity, boldness, and elevates the moments when we embrace who we are – where Latin luxury and presence take center stage.”
This isn’t the last of collaborative and immersive events, such as the Chino Latino dinner. With forces and cultural shifters like López, Chan, Kids of Immigrants, and Buchanan’s Whisky, it’s only inevitable that there will be more community-driven events that fuse cultures, identities, and artistic mediums.
