Dining Out: First Dates, Defiant Nights, and Last Call Disco Fries at America's Gay Restaurants

In this conversation about Dining Out: First Dates, Defiant Nights, and Last Call Disco Fries at America's Gay Restaurants, author Erik Piepenburg takes us on a culinary tour of spaces filled with joy, sex, sorrow, activism, and nostalgia, joined by colleagues from the food world Telly Justice, Camille Lindsley, and Florent Morellet. This event was rescheduled from January 26 due to inclement weather. It will take place in person and online at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library on the 7th Floor. ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS Erik Piepenburg is the author of Dining Out: Last Dates, Defiant Nights and Last Call Disco Fries at America's Gay Restaurants (2025), a look at 100 years of queer dining history. A journalist, Erik has been writing for The New York Times since 2004, covering LGBTQ+ issues, film, theater, television, food and travel. His writing has also appeared in The Los Angeles Times, Grub Street, Out magazine, and many other publications. Originally and proudly from Cleveland, he now lives in New York City. Telly Justice (she/her) is the chef and owner of HAGS. A proud trans woman who has been working in the food industry for over a decade and a half. Her hard work has led to her being recognized as a Michelin Young Chef NY Winner 2023, a James Beard Foundation nomination for Best Chef New York 2023, a James Beard Foundation nomination for Emerging Chef in 2022, a Star Chefs Community Award Winner 2022, and in 2025 was recognized as one of Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs. At HAGS, Telly oscillates between serving flamboyant and outrageous tasting menus as well as fun and inclusive Pay What You Can meals. Camille Lindsley (she/her) is the wine director and owner of HAGS. A Queer sommelier with an undeniable eye for the finer things, Camille’s passion for hospitality runs deep and demonstrates her love of community, culture and history. She has received the Wine Enthusiast Future 40 in 2022 as well as winning the Star Chefs Community Award in 2022. Running the beverage program, and front of house operations at HAGS, Camille is devoted to marrying the theater of fine dining with the care and compassion of Queer hospitality. Florent Morellet owned the eponymous Restaurant Florent in the Meatpacking District. The restaurant was open in 1985 and closed in 2008. He now lives in Bushwick, Brooklyn.