LITTLE iTALY CHINA TOWN THE

New York:
Little Italy
China Town
The Multicultural Capital of the World
By Eli Pemberton
Source: NYC Chinatown At Night. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.panoramio.com/photo/44844652
C
Source: Little Italy Main Display Photo (n.d.). Retreived from http://nyclovesnyc.blogspot.com/2013/06/one-rainy-night-in-manhattans-little.html
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.
N
Source: The World Flag. (n.d.). Retrieved from: http://www.theworldflag.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/World-Flag2011-3final.jpg
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.
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
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.
I
Food As Culture
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.
H
Harlem: Spanish/East & West
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.
Source: “Outside” (May 2014). Retrieved from http://
www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60763-d933528-ReviewsParisi_Bakery-New_York_City_New_York.html#photos
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
Source: Chin, R.K. (2007). Sambuca’s Café. Retrieved from http://
www.nychinatown.org/storefronts/mulberry/105mulberry.html
 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
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
Source: Shanghai Cuisine Restaurant. (n.d.). Retrieved from Zagat 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)
Source: The Original Ice Cream Factory. (n.d.). Retrieved from Zagat
 Known Flavors: Chocolate, Vanilla and Rocky Road, Black
Sesame, Coconut Fudge, Don Tot (Chinese Egg Custard), Green Tea, and
Lychee
 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
A great place to find traditional Chinese
There are three cultures from three different nations, whose ancestries have shaped the neighborhoods where they settled in NYC:
A great place to find renowned Italian
restaurant serving Neapolitan cuisine
since 1902 in Little Italy is
Source: Buglewicz, J. (n.d.) Angelo’s. Retrieved from: nycgo.com
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 70,0000150,000, 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.
Source: Unknown. (n.d.) Retrieved from: https://41.media.tumblr.com/3e4e82e34bdfdbd8
a265b130d1e21b61/tumblr_mqq73mxOwL1qccox3o1_500.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
A true spirited Spanish Harlem restaurant is
Some of the best fried Hispanic food can be
Need a place where you can feed your soul? Head
found at
to
 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.)
 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 cooking I have ever had the pleasure of tasting” (Urbanspoon, 2014)
 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: Miss Maude's Seafood Gumbo,
BBQ Wings, Popcorn Shrimp, Aunt Norma's
Fresh Garden Green Salad, Southern Fried
Chicken
 Known Dishes: Chicken Torta and Spicy
Pork Burritos
 Known Dishes: Chicharron, Mofongo, and
Tostones
 Atmosphere: The aroma of the homemade
tostones, coupled with the ambience of native
Spanish Harlem music fill air.
 Atmosphere: The food and atmosphere enrich
the soul and mind.
 Atmosphere: Their famous sangria and
fresh spicy food provides a festive
atmosphere
 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
Source: Pemberton, E. (2013). Canal Street.
 Known Dishes: Asian Spices, Asian F ruits, and Asian Vegetables
 Atmosphere: A walk through the streets of Shanghai