Event Diaries: Blackbelly “Bites with Butchers”
Note: Before you continue reading, please note that a depiction of a butchered animal appears in this blog.
Blackbelly Bites with Butchers
Asian Girls Ignite (AGI) partnered with Blackbelly Market to join "Bites with Butchers," a series of exclusive butchery demo and tasting events at their Denver location, benefitting local nonprofits. This was our first time hosting an event together, and tickets for the event sold out soon after being released.
Blackbelly’s Head Butcher, Kelly Kawachi, is an Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) woman and Michelin Award-winner (2023 Colorado Culinary Professional Award). Kelly led attendees through a live demo as she skillfully broke down a beef rib and shared insights on cooking methods, sourcing, and dry aging techniques.
Live Demo and Asian-Inspired Menu
For the event, the Blackbelly staff developed a menu centered around Asian cuisines, inspired by AGI's work with the AANHPI community. The delicious bites crafted by the Blackbelly kitchen were paired with select beer and wine to complement the unique flavors.
Menu:
Sukiyaki Terrine
Szechuan Style BLT
Ginger-Soy Braised Short Rib
Spinalis, Crispy Rice, Gochujang
Eye of Ribeye, Asian Pear Salad
After the demo, guests were invited to purchase freshly butchered cuts including boneless ribeye, short ribs, beef plates, and back ribs. Thanks to the generous beef donation from Bootheel 7 Ranch, 100% of fresh cut proceeds were donated to AGI.
Reflections from Team AGI
Team AGI is incredibly grateful for the opportunity to partner with Blackbelly and AANHPI women in Colorado. Many of the attendees at this event were hearing about AGI for the first time, and we are touched by the enthusiasm and support we received.
Each organization that is highlighted in the “Bites with Butchers” series receives 10% of ticket sales as a donation. This generous contribution, along with the sales from the fresh cuts and individual donations, raised $635 for AGI’s educational programs!
Thank you to everyone involved for helping us put on a successful event to raise money for our programming. We hope everyone who came enjoyed Kelly’s demo, the paired bites from Blackbelly, and learning more about our AGI community.
If you weren’t able to make this event, please consider making a donation directly to Asian Girls Ignite or attending a future Bites with Butchers event!
About ASIAN GIRLS IGNITE
Founded in October 2020, Asian Girls Ignite is a non-profit organization that provides educational programs for AANHPI girls and gender-expansive youth to celebrate their individual and collective power. We use storytelling to empower the next generation to write their futures in their own voice. Our programs and events nurture social-emotional learning to help our students grow in resilience, empathy, and self-awareness.
