For the uninitiated, a culinary diaspora refers to the spread and preservation of a group’s culinary traditions and cuisine in different parts of the world as a result of migration. It emphasizes how food can become a crucial aspect of cultural identity and continuity for communities living away from their original homeland.
Across the country in big cities and small towns, bustling cultural enclaves serve as living testaments to the resilience of culinary traditions in the face of assimilation. For these immigrants and their kin, food becomes a source of comfort beyond mere sustenance, a means of storytelling and a manifestation of identity.
Whether you happen to be in Boise, New Orleans, Dearborn or New York City, there is a rich sense of community (and a cuisine) waiting to be discovered and acknowledged.