Native Dish

05/25/2019

Thank you Luis Enrique Moncada Torrez for being the 1,000th follower! Sorry, no prize! 😄But thank you for all of your help!!!!

05/24/2019

As of today, we have 999 followers. While we think that number looks kind of cool and can symbolize many things including love, let's get it to over one-thousand! Will you be our new follower today?

05/22/2019

Native Dish: Jimmy Gurung’s Yak Momos

Check out the newest article from our friends at Culinary Backstreets, featuring Jimmy Gurung and Raksha Thapa of Jackson Heights' Himilayan Yak Restaurant. Whenever Native Dish features an immigrant profile of a Queens resident (or business), Culinary Backstreets will accompany it with an expanded article told from the subjects' point of view. The CB folks delve deeper into Jimmy and Raksha's journey to America, and the ways they bring their taste of home to the masses here in NYC. https://culinarybackstreets.com/cities-category/queens/2019/native-dish-5/

Jamyang “Jimmy” Gurung, manager of the Himalayan Yak, and waitress Raksha Thapa delve into their connection to Nepal, love of sharing food and Yak momo.

05/09/2019

Native Dish: Senegalese Poisson Yassa - NYC Immigrant Cuisine: Chef Ejhadji Cissé

One day in 1995, Dakar, Senegalese-native Ejhadji Cissé woke up from a dream of living in New York City. He took this as a sign, and with his cousin Cheihk, immediately headed West to pursue a career in the culinary arts. Upon arriving and getting his bearings in Harlem's "Little Senegal" community, Cissé quickly entered the restaurant business, serving as sous chef for star chefs Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Daniel Bouloud. As his talents started getting noticed, he found his way to the finals on the Food Network series "Chopped." He had dreams of opening his own Harlem restaurant, combining French-trained culinary excellence with authentic Senegalese recipes he grew up eating. Voila Ponty Bistro: a restaurant offering locals a taste of West Africa with a French twist. In this episode, Chef Cissé fries up Poisson Yassa, a favorite Sunday dish--one that families greet loved ones with: sea bass flavored with a familiar Yassa onion sauce of lemon, garlic, peppers, dijon mustard and olives.

04/16/2019

Native Dish: Isha Sumner’s Garifuna Tortillas

Check out the newest article from our friends at Culinary Backstreets, featuring Gariganu Woodside, Queens residents Isha Sumner. Whenever Native Dish features an immigrant profile of a Queens resident, Culinary Backstreets will accompany it with an expanded article told from the subjects' point of view, now complete with a recipe readers can make from home (in this month's article, Coconut Durudia Tortillas). https://culinarybackstreets.com/cities-category/queens/2019/native-dish-4/

Isha Sumner, an immigrant from Honduras with a large Garifuna family, shares her recipe for durudias, or coconut milk tortillas, with "Native Dish."

03/19/2019

Native Dish: Jeannie Ongkeo’s Tam Mak Hoong

Check out the newest article from our friends at Culinary Backstreets, featuring Jeannie Ongkeo (as profiled in our series) Elmhurst, Queens resident, Lao refugee and retired chef of Tribeca's "Mangez Avec Moi" restaurant. Whenever Native Dish features an immigrant profile of a Queens resident, Culinary Backstreets will accompany it with an expanded article told from the subjects' point of view, now complete with a recipe readers can make from home (in this case, it's Jeannie's recipe for Lao Papaya Salad). https://culinarybackstreets.com/cities-category/queens/2019/native-dish-3/

Jeannie Ongkeo, a refugee from Laos who has lived in Queens for over 40 years, shares her recipe for Tam Mak Hoong, or papaya salad, with "Native Dish."

02/21/2019

We're pleased to announce that two of our episodes, "Fujianese Nian Gao Lunar New Year Cake" and "Mongolian Byaslag Cheese" were nominated this year for two New York Emmy Awards!! Congratulations to our profiled subjects Byambaakhuu Darinchuluun and An Chen, and to our hard-working team, including Stephanie Lui, Sue Handman and Max Shuppert! Fingers crossed...

02/19/2019

Native Dish: Manashe Khaimov and His Family’s Bakhsh

Check out the newest article from our friends at Culinary Backstreets, featuring Queensite and Bukharian community organizer Manashe Khaimov (as profiled in our series), and his family's recipe for traditional Bakhsh green rice. Whenever Native Dish features an immigrant profile of a Queens resident, Culinary Backstreets will accompany it with an expanded article told from the subjects' point of view. https://culinarybackstreets.com/cities-category/queens/2019/native-dish-2/

Manashe Khaimov, who belongs to the Bukharian Jewish community in Queens, share his family’s recipe for bakhsh, or green rice, in this episode of Native Dish.

01/25/2019

Native Dish: Esneider Arevalo’s Arepas

We are very pleased to announce our new alliance with Culinary Backstreets--the global guide to local eats and cultural food tours--as part of their Queens, NYC coverage. Whenever Native Dish features an immigrant profile of a Queens resident, Culinary Backstreets will accompany it with an article that expands on the subjects' story that is told in their own words. We are excited about joining forces and can't be thankful enough for their help in promoting NYC's immigrant cuisine! https://culinarybackstreets.com/cities-category/queens/2019/native-dish/

In an episode of "Native Dish," CB walk leader Esneider Arevalo shares his family recipe for golden arepas as well as his experience in Colombia and Queens.

11/29/2018

Native Dish: Colombian Paisa Arepas - NYC Immigrant Cuisine: Esneider Arevalo

In the 1980s, many Colombians fled home due to the Cold War conflict, drug violence and a lack of opportunity. As a teenager then, Esneider Arevalo left the Paisa region and his dreams of being an olympic swimmer. He would eventually join his mom (the famed "Arepa Lady" in Jackson Heights, Queens) to help her to run her food cart and work in the restaurant business. After being in NYC awhile, he began to make a name of his own, leading a political punk rock band and managing restaurants. Today, he leads food tours through the immigrant communities of Jackson Heights, Corona and Elmhurst for the website, Culinary Backstreets, and gives visitors a taste of both Latin-American and Asian fare. When they want a taste of his native Medellín, he shares with them a family recipe for traditional golden Arepas, made from freshly-ground and soaked cracked hominy corn. In this episode, Esneider shows just how versatile this corn bread is--you can eat it anytime and top it with anything you can imagine: Hogao (Colombian sofrito), cheese, hot chocolate sauce, and more!

11/01/2018

Native Dish

Good news, Native Dish viewers and fans! Thanks to you, we now have our own URL on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/NativeDish😀

No Hosts or Foodie Stars. Just NYC Immigrants: Their Food. Their Culture. Their Words. Meet the faces and families behind New York's international cuisine, a...

10/09/2018

Hope our viewers and fans are having a prosperous fall season. We are very close to gaining 100 subscribers via our Youtube channel. Once we do, we will be eligible for a dedicated Youtube URL address (youtube.com/nativedish). If you already like us on Facebook, could you please subscribe to us on Youtube? Thank you!!!! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0nMJ4Uk-7eqW7sVPpssmTw

08/23/2018

Native Dish: Bukharian Jewish Bakhsh Rice - NYC Immigrant Cuisine: Manashe Khaimov

Shortly before 9/11, 14-year-old Manashe Khaimov and family emigrated from Samarkand, Uzbekistan to Rego Park, Queens, joining other Bukharian Jewish families seeking prosperity, religious freedom and educational opportunities. Over time, as a New Yorker, Manashe grew stronger ties to his identity and traditions, eventually becoming an educator and organizer within his community. Today, Manashe, 31, leads the Jewish Silk Road Tours, offering a taste of his commuty and culture--and food--to all New Yorkers, including his family's recipe for Bakhsh, an ancient, parsley-infused rice dish using Uzbek pilaf, green tea, shoulder beef, salt and pepper, all boiled in a traditional cotton sack.

05/17/2018

Ramadan Mubarak

05/13/2018

We at Native Dish wish our immigrant moms in NYC, the United States and all over the world a very happy and healthy Mother’s Day. We wish to especially recognize the matriarchs featured in our stories who came to NYC to provide prosperity and opportunity for their families...

Fauzia Abdur-Rahman
Mercedes Arroliga
Sara Martinez and Isha Sumner
Jeannie Ongkeo
Upi Yuliastuti
Mei Zheng

04/25/2018

Native Dish: Bulgarian Tarator Soup - NYC Immigrant Cuisine: Alexandra Mladenova

Sofia, Bulgaria native and Brighton Beach resident Alexandra Mladenova came to New York City two years ago. She ordinarily helps New Yorkers meet their fiduciary obligations during tax season, helping all walks of life file with the IRS. But as a part-time chef with thorough knowledge of Bulgarian cuisine, she also electrifies patrons’ taste buds as a resident grandma “Nonna” chef at Staten Island’s Enoteca Maria restaurant, cooking up favorite homestyle classics like Banitsa feta cheese Pastry. When they need something more refreshing to cool off, Alexandra reaches for some world-famous thick Bulgarian yogurt and mixes it with cucumber cubes, dill, garlic, olive oil and trace amounts of hot pepper to create her version of Tarator, a cold soup that also doubles as a dip.

03/16/2018

Boston Pays Tribute to Immigrant Grandmothers

Boston Pays Tribute to Immigrant Grandmothers

A new mural serves as a visual tribute to grandmothers and the values that residents share across ethnic lines

03/08/2018

Presentan el Indio Viejo en televisión Newyorkina | Canal2

Thank you, TV Noticias Canal2, for covering our profile on Nicaraguan Chef Javier Álvarez! We appreciate your help in spreading the word about Immigrant families and cuisine in NYC! http://canal2tv.com/presentan-el-indio-viejo-en-television-newyorkinapresentan-el-indio-viejo-en-television-newyorkina/

Un reportaje especial realizado por un reconocido Canal de Televisión de La Gran Manzana, presenta todos los ingredientes necesario para

03/08/2018

On this day, and every day, we at Native Dish celebrate the strength, power and achievements of Immigrant Women, who sacrificed so much to give our families a better life, give many a voice, fight for fairness and equality and help lead the world.

03/08/2018

Native Dish: Nicaraguan Indio Viejo Stew, Chef Javier Álvarez

Ever since the tender age of 8, Brighton Beach resident and Estelí, Nicaraguan-native Javier Álvarez knew that cooking would be his destiny. Six years later, after coming to New York City, his dream would become reality as Chef de Cuisine at Tribeca's Graffiti Earth Restaurant, led by restaurateur Jehangir Metha (of TV Iron Chef fame). His mom, Mercedes Arroglia, came to the U.S. in 2004 to provide better opportunity for her children. On his days off, Javier gathers the family and cooks for them his grandma's recipe for El Indio Viejo--a savory cornmeal pozole stew containing tomatoes, beef ribs, mint and a hint of orange bitters. It's a legendary recipe that even ancient Conquistadors who ruled old Nicaragua would dare not eat!

02/23/2018

We are pleased to announce that our "Estonian Kringel Bread" episode was recently nominated for a New York Emmy Award! Our thanks to Aarne, Liisi and Kadri of the New York Estonian House, Interviewer Shetal Shah and the entire NYC Media team for their support in making this story possible! The NY Emmys are announced April 14th...fingers crossed!🤞

02/15/2018

Native Dish: Fujianese Nian Gao Lunar New Year Cake, An Chen and Mei Zheng

Mei Zheng and her son, An Chen, came from a family of farmers, fishers and doctors in Fuzhou City, China. In 1996, they arrived in New York City in search of greater opportunity. Though their family has prospered in Chinatown's Little Fuzhou, Mei and An never forget their roots. They share how they celebrate Chinese New Year--one of the most important holidays in many Asian cultures--by steaming and frying Nian Gao, a traditional sticky rice cake dessert topped with boiled peanuts.

02/13/2018

Happy Maha Shivaratri!!!!

02/13/2018

Happy Lunar New Year Greetings from An Chen and Mei Zheng!

Happy Lunar New Year!!!! Greetings from An Chen and Mei Zheng, the subjects of our newest episode featuring Fujianese Nian Gao rice cake--debuting Thursday at 9:56pm on NYClife Channel 25 and here on FB!

01/29/2018

Native Dish

We'd like to offer our heartfelt thanks to Byambakhuu Darichuluun and our new FB fans in the Mongolian, Mongolian-American and food blogging Communities for helping the "Mongolian Byaslag Cheese" story reach nearly 30,000 views!! Thanks everyone and don't forget, you can catch new episodes by subscribing to: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0nMJ4Uk-7eqW7sVPpssmTw

No Hosts or Foodie Stars. Just NYC Immigrants: Their Food. Their Culture. Their Words. Meet the faces and families behind New York's international cuisine, a...

01/25/2018

Native Dish: Mongolian Byaslag Cheese, Byambakhuu Darichuluun

Byambakhuu Darichuluun, a native of Central Mongolia, came to NYC in 2011 to study life in America. Today, he is educating traveling New Yorkers about his home country, and also shares an ancient home recipe for curdling Byaslag, a creamy Mongolian cheese, using everyday ingredients found in most American homes: Whole Milk and Plain Yogurt. Through his Mongol Heritage Foundation, he curates several events across the Tri-State area that offer a taste of Mongolian tradition and culture.

01/12/2018

“The restaurant industry in major cities would absolutely collapse without immigrants.” Saru Jayaraman, a labor activist and the founder of the worker group Restaurant Opportunities Center United.

12/27/2017

Native Dish

From all of us at the Native Dish team, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!! Celebrate your native cuisine at home with family and friends, and send us pics of your favorite recipes. Don't forget to subscribe to the Native Dish Youtube page! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0nMJ4Uk-7eqW7sVPpssmTw

No Hosts or Foodie Stars. Just NYC Immigrants: Their Food. Their Culture. Their Words. Meet the faces and families behind New York's international cuisine, a...

12/20/2017

Native Dish: Fauzia Abdur-Rahman, Jamaican Fusion Jerk Chicken

Kingston-native Fauzia Abdur-Rahman has found a creative way to cook a famous Jamaican staple without the use of charcoal or hot grilles. That's because she and her family run a food cart, where she boils and braises her Jerk Chicken made of Halal boneless thighs. She's been doing it this way from the corner of Concourse Village West and East 161st Street for over 22 years, serving officers, judges and attorneys who work in South Bronx's courthouse area, and offering them a taste of her grandmother's recipes.

12/19/2017

Hi everyone--we really appreciate all the love and are happy Isha and Sara's story has over 4,000 views thanks to you!! Our sincerest thanks to Isha Sumner and Sara Martinez, Tio Teo (Teofilo Colón Jr.) and Charles Bibilos for making this episode possible and for spreading the word!! Happy Holidays!!

12/13/2017

Native Dish: Garifuna Durudia Tortillas

An estimated 200,000 Garifuna people--Arawak Indian and West African descendants exiled from St. Vincent island to parts of Central America--call New York home today. Isha Sumner's mom, Sara Martinez, is one of them. The Honduran-native, now living in Woodside, Queens, came to America in the 1970's to provide for her family back home. In the mid-1980s, Isha joined her in NYC and eventually they started a catering business named "Weiga" ("Let's Eat" in Garifuna), cooking many Garifuna dishes, some of which have both Caribbean and Latin-American influence. In this episode, they offer a taste of their heritage by flavoring their tortilla mix with coconut milk and brown sugar, creating "Durudias."

12/08/2017

Native Dish: Indonesian Beef Rendang Brisket - NYC Immigrant C...

Since 2004, Upi Yuliastuti has been serving New Yorkers--including the City's population of 8,000 Indonesian immigrants--authentic spicy flavors from her home city of Padang, West Sumatra. She combines familiar native ingredients like coconut milk, chili peppers and lemongrass to create her version of the celebrated "Rendang Padang" stir-fried beef brisket.

12/08/2017

Native Dish: Nepalese Yak Momos - NYC Immigrant Cuisine: Himal...

In 2004, Jamyang (Jimmy) Gurung left the cold deserts of Mustang, Nepal to help his Uncle open a restaurant in the then-nascent Himalayan community of Jackson Heights, Queens. Several years later, Jimmy and other Himalayan colleagues keep tradition alive while reinterpreting the juicy taste of the authentic "Momo" Yak dumpling through American-grown ingredients. They're educating New Yorkers about the unique health benefits and taste of lean Yak meat.

12/08/2017

Native Dish: Turkmen Manti Dumplings - NYC Immigrant Cuisine: ...

Native Dish: Turkmen Manti Dumplings - NYC Immigrant Cuisine: ...

12/08/2017

Native Dish: Estonian Kringel Bread - NYC Immigrant Cuisine: A...

There are 30,000 Estonian immigrants and Estonian-Americans living in America. Meet one of them, Aarne Läänemaa, a chef at New York Estonian House living in NYC's Astoria neighborhood. Taste his delightful recipe for braided cinnamon dessert bread known as Kringel, and get to know how he called New York home.