Enoteca Maria

Enoteca Maria is a New York City restaurant with a truly unique concept: They have a rotating menu prepared by grandmothers from around the world. What began as an Italian restaurant with food cooked by Nonna’s from different regions of Italy soon evolved into inviting grandmothers from across the globe to share their culinary traditions.

Depending on the night, patrons have the opportunity to order food from Bangladesh, Peru, Japan, Algeria, and a dozen other countries. The restaurant is constantly taking on new grandmothers, and therefore creating new offerings on their diverse menu. In addition, the owners of the restaurant have created a virtual book entitled Nonnas of the World, where anyone can submit their grandmother’s recipes, written in their native language.

I’m so glad that this amazing restaurant exists, and I hope that concepts like these spread across the United States!

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Little Saigon – a Vietnamese cultural enclave in Denver

At the intersection of Federal Boulevard and Mississippi Avenue is a shopping center that boasts a refreshing array of Vietnamese restaurants, bakeries, and shops. Aside from the delicious Pho and boba tea, this enclave also hosts numerous festivals and classes throughout the year, highlighting the unique celebrations of Lunar New Year and the Mid Autumn Festival. Some of the classes they offer are martial arts, calligraphy, storytelling, arts and crafts, Tai Chi, acupuncture, and cooking classes. This vibrant center of Vietnamese traditions has enriched the greater community for years. Check out their website!