Astoria, N.Y. — On Tuesday night, March 4, Museum of the Moving Image and Epicenter NYC hosted an Iftar dinner at the Museum for about 100 guests from the city’s cultural, government, and media communities. The menu was prepared by Chef Danny Garcia, Chef Anika Chowdhury, and Chef Sumaiya Bangee.
Aziz Isham, Executive Director of Museum of the Moving Image, and S. Mitra Kalita, publisher & co-founder of Epicenter NYC, gave remarks welcoming guests, who included: Diya Vij, the newly appointed Commissioner of the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs; Diana Moreno, newly elected New York State Assembly Member; Council Member Shekar Krishnan; musician Anik Khan; curator and artist Jasmine Wahi; curator and filmmaker Farihah Zaman; Zaki Barzinji, Doris Duke Foundation; Nicholai Joaquin, Pop Culture Collaborative; and others.
MoMI Executive Director Aziz Isham said, “Nothing is more powerful than community. When we break fast together, we strengthen the networks of care and creativity that makes New York the city that it is. MoMI is a museum that welcomes all New Yorkers and our partners, Epicenter NYC, are doing the same with community media and journalism, ensuring that everyone has access to relevant, local, and trustworthy publications and information.”
“New York’s Muslim communities are woven into the fabric of this city’s arts, culture, business, and civic life. This Iftar is a reflection of that truth,” said S. Mitra Kalita, co-founder and publisher of Epicenter NYC. “We are deeply grateful to Aziz and the MoMI team, our sponsors, and every person in attendance. Breaking fast together, here in the world’s borough, celebrates the brilliance and beauty of Muslim New York — and centering communities exactly like this one through art, food and community is at the core of how Epicenter shows up.”
The event also featured an exhibit curated by Epicenter co-founder Nitin Mukul, spotlighting works by Saks Afridi, Aiza Ahmed, Sanié Bokhari, JANAC, Sarah Khan, Javaid Nayyar, Sadaf Padder, Azzah Sultan, and Bianca Vivion in addition to a durational painting by Mukul himself.
About the chefs:
Daniel Garcia is a Brooklyn native who grew up in a Dominican and Puerto Rican household where his love of cooking began. He launched his career at The NoMad NYC, becoming Sous Chef and winning the 2016 Ment’or Young Chef Competition before staging with Team USA at the Bocuse d’Or. He then went on to work at Thomas Keller’s The French Laundry; helped open Crown Shy and Saga as Executive Sous Chef; moved to Hong Kong to reopen the acclaimed Belon as Chef de Cuisine; then returned to New York to open Time and Tide as Executive Chef and Partner. A 2024 Top Chef Season 21 winner and 2025 James Beard Award Emerging Chef Semifinalist, Danny is now developing his first solo hospitality project inspired by his culinary roots, global experience, and New York upbringing.
Anika Chowdhury is a Bangladeshi-American chef and storyteller whose work explores heritage, memory, rituals, and the cultural significance of food. She also leads as a Director in the corporate world, an experience that informs the systems-thinking approach behind what she creates. She was featured on The Great American Recipe (Season 4) on PBS, where she showcased the flavors and diversity of Bangladeshi cuisine to a national audience. On her blog, KitchenGatherings.com, Anika shares recipes, techniques, and food stories shaped by her Bangladeshi upbringing and global travels.
Sumaiya Bangee, a Southern California native raised in a Muslim South Asian family, discovered her passion for pastry through the women in her family before honing her craft in top Los Angeles kitchens, including Michael Voltaggio’s Ink and Charlie Palmer. She went on to join the team at Eleven Madison Park in New York City and later became Executive Pastry Chef at Vea and Wing in Hong Kong. After a year abroad, Sumaiya returned to New York, where she now runs a thriving pastry consulting business—the first of its kind in the city—collaborating with major restaurant groups and chefs while also working with nonprofit organizations like Emma’s Torch to help develop the next generation of culinary talent.
About Epicenter NYC
Epicenter started as a newsletter to help underserved communities, especially those at the epicenter of the epicenter, navigate Covid through journalism, an artist program, small business coverage, and on-the-ground resources. Today, it is an award-winning multiplatform community journalism organization that also includes podcast and video content; spotlights artists, small businesses and entrepreneurs; features film festivals, art exhibits and things to do; and covers the issues that impact people’s everyday lives. Epicenter connects, informs and engages people IRL and digitally through the power of culture and community. Learn more at epicenter-nyc.com.
About Museum of the Moving Image
MoMI celebrates the history, art, technology, and future of the moving image in all of its forms. Located in Astoria, New York, the Museum presents exhibitions; screenings; discussion programs featuring actors, directors, and creative leaders; and education programs. It houses the nation’s most comprehensive collection of moving image artifacts and screens over 500 films annually. Its exhibitions—including the core exhibition Behind the Screen and The Jim Henson Exhibition—are noted for their integration of material objects, interactive experiences, and audiovisual presentations. For more information about MoMI, visit movingimage.org.
