Maki to matcha to mahjong: East Meets West returns May 1-2

East Meets West, says festival founder and creator Maxine Sudarma, is a celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and, in part, a way to bridge the gap between generations.

“I am a first-generation Chinese American,” she says. “Our parents and grandparents love carrying on the traditions, the food and the culture, and if we don’t continue the practice, it will get lost.”

On May 1 and 2, Sudarma, along with Orlando-area professionals in everything from matcha preparation to mahjong and more than 50 vendors from around the city and state, will be passing the knowledge (and the eats) on for everyone to enjoy.

This is the third year for East Meets West, which started as a smaller event in Orlando’s Audubon Park neighborhood, hosted by East End Market.

“It was this teeny, tiny thing but so well received,” says Sudarma, who this year has moved the party to Pioneers headquarters in Lake Nona, where space will allow for vendors, live performances, karaoke, yoga classes and more, as well as limited-seating indoor workshops.

These include matcha classes from Tenshin Matcha and tea presentations from Molly Ward of The Monroe.

The former (90 minutes, $70, tickets available via East Meets West website) will lead participants through a curated progression as they learn to recognize umami, structure and aroma of matcha in its many forms.

During the two-hour tea workshop, guests will enjoy three teas while learning the fundamentals of Gong Fu Cha. Tickets for both ($45 per person) are available through the East Meets West website (chrysalisteaco.com/event-details/gong-fu-tea-brewing-workshop).

Food, of course, is paramount. Sudarma likes to focus on mom-and-pops over larger entities, even hyperlocal vendors that sell from their homes.

“The kind of places that immigrants know about,” she says. “Moms who make amazing noodles or dumplings, things that are very traditional from their home country … I love being able to give them a platform, to make the unseen seen.”

The first step in getting to know a new culture, she says, is often through its flavor.

“Food is something everyone loves to sample, and it’s something that people can take pride in when it’s their culture’s food being celebrated and explored.”

At press time, East Meets West had plans to showcase food from across Asia, with vendors like Inihaw (Filipino), Gangnam Sticks (Korean), MTS Kitchen (Lao/Cambodian, Saturday only), Kabuki Soba (Japanese), Moonwok (Chinese), Thanh Thanh (Vietnamese) and many more.

Merch, massage, and even mahjong, presented by the Baldwin Park Mahjong Club, will have eight tables open for play. Beginners are welcome.

You may even find Sudarma at one of them, because learning about Asian cultures isn’t exclusive to non-Asians, especially at East Meets West.

“I’m Chinese, and I don’t know how to play!” she laughs.

Admission and parking to East Meets West are free; food and some classes are à la carte. Sudarma hopes that guests will plan a day and stay, enjoying multiple meals and lots of entertainment, from Asian sports cars to kids’ hip hop dance classes (free).

“It’s a stay and play situation,” she says. “People can literally have a workout in the morning, do a matcha class, have lunch, go do karaoke and make a whole day of it.”

Sudarma, whose children are second-gen, gets emotional in thinking about the importance of events like East Meets West.

“My heart completely overflows when I see this community and how it’s able to bridge that gap,” she says. “I’ve been able to see us build confidence in younger generations while bringing awareness. There’s a joy in bringing it all together.”

Find me on Facebook, TikTok, Twitter or Instagram @amydroo or on the OSFoodie Instagram account @orlando.foodie. Email: amthompson@orlandosentinel.com, For more foodie fun, join the Let's Eat, Orlando Facebook group.

East Meets West

The festival is a journey through Asian and fusion cuisine, with a marketplace featuring handcrafted goods, souvenirs, tea workshops, matcha-making classes and artwork, 5-9 p.m. May 1, noon-9 p.m. May 2. Located at 10123 William Carey Drive in Orlando. Free admission and parking. Tickets for interactive workshops range from free to $75.

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This story was originally published April 29, 2026 at 5:12 AM.