Bringing a whole new meaning to rump roast, not to mention chicken thighs, drag goddess Juanita More has found a fabulous way to combine two of her loves—great food and queer support—in a massive expansion of her famed Naked Dinner Party, Fri/20 (her “33rd again” birthday, no less). This time, everyone’s invited to shed their fashions/inhibitions while tucking into a delicious meal from chef Cory Armenta and imbibing cocktails from Lookout and Casements bars’ Drew Anthony Ryan, followed by a night of wild and no doubt slightly floppy dancing with DJs Jumpr, Fawks, and Miloš Gilić. The bare debauchery takes place in new multi-use space HAUM Studios in the Mission.
More has been throwing these tasty fusions of cookery and, er, cockery in her tiny Tenderloin apartment since 2012, and competition has been fierce to score a coveted space at her voluptuous table, around which her coterie of hunky MOREboys stuck their forks in her dishes until the wee hours. But times have changed, sensibilities and gender expressions have wonderfully expanded, and the age of social media has necessitated an exhilarating movement toward radically diverse body acceptance. Now, to raise finds for essential global non-profit LGBTQ+ refugee organization Rainbow Railroad, More is throwing wide her culinary doors for all, au naturel.
I grilled Ms. More a bit more about her delectably déshabillé endeavor.
48 HILLS Happy 33rd Birthday! Someday I’ll catch up to you. You’ve been throwing Naked Dinner Parties for a while now. What’s the history and what was the inspiration?
JUANITA MORE In 2012, I hosted my first Naked Dinner Party in my apartment, which was very successful. The guests were not only so happy to eat my food—they were also so happy doing it in the nude. It was for the zine Das Einhorn.
Naked parties have become a thing at Casa Juanita. I always get messages from people who want to get on the invite list. There are always people who have never done anything like this before and accept the invitation nervously. We live in a culture obsessed with youth, body, and beauty.
48 HILLS I love that the event has grown beyond the MOREboys circle (and your apartment!) to embrace all different kinds of people. What will be served at the dinner party—besides yourself—and aren’t you afraid some hot Honey Goo will drip onto someone’s nether parts?
JUANITA MORE We, including myself, would not have an issue licking up some dripping Honey Goo! Chef Cory Armenta and I are bringing back some of our favorite things from past naked dinners. My carrot hummus and chicken liver mousse will be on the menu. We are adding new stuff, and I am very excited about the roasted corn pancakes with coriander butter.
48 HILLS What else can we expect at the party, and how do you feel it all helps people free and embrace themselves in this time of scary oppression?
JUANITA MORE So many of us work hard to maintain mainstream culture’s view of the perfect body . I see it all the time on social media. I grew up as an oddball. The kid that just didn’t fit in. Everywhere I looked, the image being projected at me as the “perfect body” wasn’t what I looked like. I love people for who they are in their hearts. Don’t get me wrong, when someone is beautiful —I can see that they are fucking beautiful too.
There is something freeing about these events. I see it in people’s eyes and hear about it in their enthusiasm to attend the next event. It will be refreshing to see people together in a safe place that creates community and to celebrate how fabulous everyone is over food and drinks.
48 HILLS Since it’s your birthday, can we expect to catch you chowing down in your birthday suit?
JUANITA MORE My couturier, Mr. David Glamamore, and I are busy scheming and planning my outfit!
JUANITA MORE’S NAKED BIRTHDAY DINNER AND DANCE PARTY Fri/20, 8pm-11:30pm, HAUM Studios, SF. Tickets and more info here.
