Immigrant Food opens less than a mile from White House, but owners say it's about more than Trump
newsdepo.com
The newest eatery opening less than one mile from the White House offers more than just a spot to grab a quick meal. Immigrant Food, as Peter Schechter, one of the three founders of the restaurant told The Washington Post, is about food, yes, but it’s alsImmigrant Food opens less than a mile from White House, but owners say it's about more than Trump
The newest eatery opening less than one mile from the White House offers more than just a spot to grab a quick meal. Immigrant Food, as Peter Schechter, one of the three founders of the restaurant told The Washington Post, is about food, yes, but it’s also immigrant history, advocacy, and community. But while Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies are abhorrent, Schechter stresses that the restaurant is not about him—it’s about immigrants. “It’s one of the few things in Washington that’s not about Mr. Trump,” Schechter told the Post. “We’re in a period in the States where suddenly one of the most basic things about being an American is suddenly in doubt.” Immigrant Food opens on Tuesday, Nov. 12. That’s no coincidence. Nov. 12 is the same day the Supreme Court begins to hear arguments on Trump’s plan to kill the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. This move would be catastrophic for the hundreds of thousands of Dreamers who are qualified to work and receive legal protection thanks to the program. “Just a block from the White House, Immigrant Food's fresh, creative dishes reflect how we see America at its core: diverse, nourishing and welcoming,” Schechter told The Hill. “This is our small contribution to the fight against a new intolerance in America.” Immigrant Food isn’t just honoring immigrants with lip service. The restaurant will also provide a rent-free space for non-government immigrant service organizations and advocates to meet. Meeting space (especially free meeting space) is hard to come by in D.C., especially in a location so close to the White House. The food menu highlights cuisines from local immigrant populations in D.C., including Ethiopian and El Salvadorian. “I pulled everything together in a piece of paper going … through countries, the spices that they use in their countries, ingredients by countries, and then started crossing lines, trying to connect countries,” chef Enrique Limardo, originally from Venezuela, explains to Eater. “It was like a spiderweb—very confusing at the first time, but … it was a perfect way to start connecting flavors and why I can substitute some ingredients for others.” Read more