B etween 1820 and 1978, over 5.3 million Italians migrated to the

United States. Little Italy came to fruition during this time where

immigrants started to settle in different neighborhoods in Queens, Brooklyn,

and Staten Island. However, over 390,000 residents moved into areas close to

Chinatown, Soho and Greenwich Village, where different areas represent the

old country. Northern Italians lived on Bleecker Street, whereas Southern

Italians lived on Mott Street during the 1990s. Today, most of the Little Italy

neighborhood is being absorbed by Chinatown. There still are, however,

many restaurants that depict Little Italy, such as Angelo’s of Mulberry Street,

Parisi Bakery, and Sambuca’s Café.

A great place to find renowned Italian

restaurant serving Neapolitan cuisine

since 1902 in Little Italy is

Some details about this landmark

restaurant’s cuisine:

Critic Quote: It doesn’t get more

“old-school” than this circa-1902 Little

Italy “favorite” that stays popular thanks to “good, old-fashioned”

Neapolitan cooking and “attentive” service

Known Dishes: Rigatoni with Meatballs, Stuffed Artichokes, Roasted

Peppers, and Eggplant Parmesan

Atmosphere: The authentic Italian décor, coupled with the dishes, can

make you no closer to Italy than going there

is a family bakery that has been in existence for over a

century. Located at 198 Mott Street, they

continue the renowned family tradition of

using fresh ingredients to supply great bread

to city restaurants and delicatessens

Critic Quote: Great food; if you want

the best Italian sandwich go here. It

has been said Frank Sinatra used to get

his driver to swing by for take out

Known Dishes: Italian Bread and

Sandwiches; Roast Beef, Chicken Parmesan

Atmosphere: The smell of fresh baked bread, from the street, guides

you into the restaurant of authentic breads and sandwiched from the old

country

is the go to place

before and after dinner, where they

serve over 100 varieties of desserts and

different flavoured cappuccinos and

coffees, all in the ambience of an Italian

bistro with an open-air atmosphere

Critic Quote: You can’t leave Little

Italy without having dessert

Known Dishes: Tiramisu

Atmosphere: The open air styled restaurant gives you that

authentic Italian bistro feel

Little Italy

Source: Buglewicz, J. (n.d.) Angelo’s. Retrieved from: nycgo.com

Source: “Outside” (May 2014). Retrieved from http://

www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60763-d933528-Reviews-

Parisi_Bakery-New_York_City_New_York.html#photos

Source: Chin, R.K. (2007). Sambuca’s Café. Retrieved from http://

www.nychinatown.org/storefronts/mulberry/105mulberry.html

Source: Little Italy Main Display Photo (n.d.). Retreived from http://nyclovesnyc.blogspot.com/2013/06/one-rainy-night-in-manhattans-little.html

C hinatown is an example of how just one neighborhood can act as a

portal to another world in its own right in the middle of NYC.

Situated in the lower east side of Manhattan, New York City’s Chinatown is the

largest of its size in the western hemisphere. The population ranges 70,0000-

150,000, which accounts for the great cultural diversity of the area. The

Chinese culture has influenced NYC through the food, the sights, the sounds,

and the atmosphere. Landmarks like Canal Street, The Shanghai Cuisine

Restaurant and The Original Ice Cream Factory are just some of the places to

see in Chinatown.

A great place to find traditional Chinese

cuisine in Chinatown is the

(on Mott Street).

Some details about this landmark

restaurant’s cuisine:

Critic Quote: It goes without saying that

the food here is phenomenal, and gives

patrons an authentic Chinese dining

experience through the flavors of the Orient

and the intricate and marvellous simplicity of Chinese dining (Zagat,

2014)

Known Dishes: Soup Dumplings

Atmosphere: Minimal décor, but the price and food quality make it just

right to enjoy great oriental dishes

After indulging in all the food that

Chinatown town has to offer, you can

stop off by

. Some details about

this landmark restaurant's cuisine:

Critic Quote: “Hard-to-find”

flavors – from “fragrant”

litchi to “sesame and taro

galore” (Zagat, 2014)

Known Flavors: Chocolate, Vanilla and Rocky Road, Black

Sesame, Coconut Fudge, Don Tot (Chinese Egg Custard), Green Tea, and

Lychee

Atmosphere: The rich smell of mint, peppermint and coconut

invigorate your senses as you wait for your order to be made,

always leaving you to come back for more.

One of the most vibrant parts of Chinatown

to visit is .

Critic Quote: The whole street is a

vibrant bazaar at summer time (which is the

best recommended time to visit) where you

can find fruit and vegetable stands, fresh

fruits and Asian grocery stores

Known Dishes: Asian Spices, Asian Fruits, and Asian Vegetables

Atmosphere: A walk through the streets of Shanghai

China Town

Source: Shanghai Cuisine Restaurant. (n.d.). Retrieved from Zagat

Source: The Original Ice Cream Factory. (n.d.). Retrieved from Zagat

Source: Pemberton, E. (2013). Canal Street.

Source: NYC Chinatown At Night. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.panoramio.com/photo/44844652

New York:

The Multicultural Capital of the World

By Eli Pemberton

N ew Yorkers enjoy a melting pot of cultures in what can be called a “metropolitan utopia.” The city is blessed by harmonic urbanism that spans across the

five boroughs (Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, and Staten Island). NYC displays multiculturalism through the integration of immigrants, who have

helped shape the city into what it is today. It is the perseverance of the ancestry of each culture, in the face of great challenges (such as racism and fear of

persecution) that has created the melting pot for which New York is renowned. Immigration has significantly impacted the city, so much so that one can taste, feel,

and hear from many cultures from around the globe.

There are three cultures from three different nations, whose ancestries have shaped the neighborhoods where they settled in NYC:

These are what can be described as the more prominent cultures within the city, as the population of each is great in number and has greatly impacted the cultural

influence of each area’s community.

Food As Culture

Harlem: Spanish/East & West

H arlem is a key example of just what a melting pot of cultures is; historically, the first settlers in Harlem were of Dutch, German, Irish and Italian

ancestry. However, this later shifted to South American and Caribbean ancestry with the influx of immigrants. Today, Harlem is home to African

American and Caribbean ancestry in the West, and to the East is what is known as “Spanish Harlem.” This is made of the Hispanic community, of Puerto Rican

and Dominican ancestry.

Each of these cultures has brought across influences from their homelands, and in this case the cuisines of each culture is a key trademark of each culture. To the

west, you can find Soul Food and Caribbean inspired cuisine, while in the east, you can find Hispanic cuisines.

Some of the best fried Hispanic food can be

found at

Critic Quote: “The best selection in town!

Food always fresh, service is great. Bring your

friends and family won't regret

it!” (MenuPages, n.d.)

Known Dishes: Chicharron, Mofongo, and

Tostones

Atmosphere: The aroma of the homemade

tostones, coupled with the ambience of native

Spanish Harlem music fill air.

Need a place where you can feed your soul? Head

to

Critic Quote: “WOW! I am from the South so

when I heard of this place I thought yeah right.

To my surprise some of the best southern cook-

ing I have ever had the pleasure of tast-

ing” (Urbanspoon, 2014)

Known Dishes: Miss Maude's Seafood Gumbo,

BBQ Wings, Popcorn Shrimp, Aunt Norma's

Fresh Garden Green Salad, Southern Fried

Chicken

Atmosphere: The food and atmosphere enrich

the soul and mind.

A true spirited Spanish Harlem restaurant is

Critic Quote: The food should satisfy even

the hungriest lumberjack. The Puebla-style

sandwiches are large, typical of Hispanic

generosity. The appetizers are generous as

well (Yelp, 2014)

Known Dishes: Chicken Torta and Spicy

Pork Burritos

Atmosphere: Their famous sangria and

fresh spicy food provides a festive

atmosphere

I t has been said that “food is as exclusive a human behavior as language” (Parasecoli, 2014). There is a correlation between each and every dish, ingredient

and meal component within the culinary world. Food can be the gateways for cultures to interact with each other. It is also an amicable way of being able to

interact with each other. Food is a language of its own, and it is a language that can speak volumes and bring people together to enjoy great heritage, culture and

past times.

Source: Unknown. (n.d.) Retrieved from: https://41.media.tumblr.com/3e4e82e34bdfdbd8

a265b130d1e21b61/tumblr_mqq73mxOwL1qccox3o1_500.jpg

Source: The World Flag. (n.d.). Retrieved from: http://www.theworldflag.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/World-Flag2011-3final.jpg

Source: Miss Mamie’s. (n.d.). Retrieved from: http://www.zagat.com/r/miss-mamies-spoonbread-too-manhattan Source: Café Ollin. (n.d.). Retrieved from: http://www.timeout.com/newyork/restaurants/cafe-ollin