With six million immigrants in NYC and 94 national cuisines available, it’s easy to see that food connects New York residents across cultures. At Documented, we’re digging into how food preparation provides newcomers with economic mobility and a way to celebrate their heritage. Here are our favorite stories we published about immigrants and food in 2024.
Every year during the Mid-Autumn Festival, people from many East and Southeast Asian countries reunite with their loved ones to share mooncakes. Faye Qiu, Documented’s Chinese Community Correspondent, shares the process of making these pastries, what it means to her family — and an English translation of her aunt’s personal mooncakes recipe for you to try at home.
Read More: Making Mooncakes: Celebrating The Mid-Autumn Festival in Brooklyn
From selling homemade dishes in hair salons to becoming a popular vendor at Smorgasburg Prospect Park, Tanty Darlene’s Kitchen brings Trinbagonian flavors to NYC. We interviewed namesake Darlene Vincent about how she got her big break at Brooklyn’s seasonal food festival.
Read More: From Trinidad to Smorgasburg: A Culinary Journey of Success
NYC has the largest concentration of Haitian immigrants in the country – which makes the city the best place to try Haitian food. Caribbean influencer Nadège Fleurimond shares her top five restaurants.
Read More: Try 5 Local Spots For Caribbean Food in NYC
At this New York culinary training program, asylum seekers learn how to julienne, deglaze — and apply for jobs. Participants who hail from more than 25 countries gain their New York City Food Handler’s License certification and opportunities to connect with potential employers.
In celebration of Thanksgiving, Documented asked our WhatsApp community readers to share how they would be celebrating the U.S. holiday. “We are in a country where we start adapting to the cultures and traditions to better process the journey of migrating and to avoid feeling excluded,” one reader shared.
Read More: Immigrants Grateful for ‘Belonging’ on Their First Thanksgiving
