Episode 2

Culture Diaries: Episode 2

By: Holden Ellenberg

Dear New Yorkers,

Welcome (or welcome back!) to the Culture Diaries. Did you miss me? The Culture Diaries is a series where I, a high school student, explore NYC through the lens of New Yorkers of all ethnic backgrounds. Like every New Yorker, I hate to be touristy, but I have decided to take on this large task with one question in mind: Where do you find your culture in NYC? My goal in doing this is not only to connect with our amazing student body, but also with the world around us. There is so much to learn and only so much time to learn it all. By learning about our peers, we can build strong relationships and grow as a community. So come along with me as I take on one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world.

Everyone celebrates their heritage in unique ways, but if there's one thing we can all agree that we love about our culture, it’s the food. Endless amounts of stories and traditions can be passed down by food. From generation to generation, food is what connects us to our ancestors and someday to our future families. The best thing about this commonality is that through food we can go past connecting with our own cultures and connect with others as well. Many people may suppress their heritage, but it’s nothing to be ashamed of; it is part of your identity, it’s part of what makes you different, and embracing it is what makes you special. 

In today’s episode, you’ll watch me try out a Mexican hotspot introduced to me by a fellow high school student, Galia Hernandez. I conducted an interview with Galia where I asked her about her heritage and special traditions. Galia said, “My dad is Mexican and my mom is American,” and “Family meals every night are a big tradition of ours.” Galia is proud of her background and is eager to share more about it with the rest of you. For today’s episode, Galia has requested we go to Los Tacos NO. 1 in Chelsea Market.   

Before you get ahead of yourself, here are a few things I learned from chatting with Galia. First, Mexican cuisine is deeply rooted in civilizations such as the Aztecs and the Mayans by incorporating traditional ingredients such as corn, beans, and chili peppers. Further, contrary to common knowledge, burritos are not a traditional Mexican dish. They were in fact invented in the United States by Mexican-American immigrants and are better described as a Tex-Mex staple. Finally, an interesting take on traditional beverages Horchata and Jamaica, while enjoyed by everybody, her family and friends are completely split between which is their favorite. I want everyone reading this to go test if Galia’s theory holds true, every Horchata friend needs a Jamaica friend. 

Now it’s my turn to try it out…