Food is a habit and therefore an integral part of our identity. In "Bengali Harlem," the hot dog stands as a symbol of cultural exchange and community building “interacts with many different people” (Bald, 173). I thought your point about the sociability created by the carts was very appropriate because in this case, the food (American) was not a community builder but the seller himself. The vendor was something people had in common (so is the McGill hot dog man in a way). Selling hot dogs allowed them to connect to life in the city and reappropriate this American staple.
Additionally, nowadays hot dog carts will usually have a large Halal sign, many will even play recitings of the Qu’ran on speakers. I’ve often thought about how such level of acceptance is only possible in New York City. A man named Omar owns a hot dog cart right below my home and to me he has succeeded in creating familiarity in a place that is always bustling with noise.
The very presence of halal hot dog carts showcases the appropriation of American culture, allowing South Asian vendors to take agency in their work. They embody the dream of self-employment, which later led to the aspirations of owning restaurants such as Bengal Harlem in midtown manhattan.
There were two types of restaurants opened by South Asians, those in Midtown Manhattan and those in Harlem
The ones in Midtown Manhattan paved the way towards the Hell’s Kitchen known today. One that is filled with restaurants from around the world and revered by foodies worldwide.
Restaurants such as Bengal Harlem used food as a bridge between communities. Bald speaks of adventurous theatre goers trying Indian food for the first time. This was crucial for the South Asian communities giving them visibility by introducing their culture to a broader audience and economically allowing many to participate in the American dream, similar to the agency of the hot dog cart.
The restaurants in Harlem however, to your point Alice, I think were much less about the American dream and instead much more melancholic. They were rooted in family and community serving authentic dishes that could resonate deeply with the immigrant and their experiences, emphasizing the importance of food in preserving culture amidst the challenges of adaptation. Most importantly these restaurants were directly surrounded by their community and arguably more authentic.
My Chinese friends have always told me to never eat at a Chinese place if not Chinese people are eating there as well.
The restaurants in midtown and Harlem had different goals and since eating should not be seen as just a way to fuel ones body, especially at a restaurant. It should be seen as an adventure or opportunity. Than the authenticity remained in the Harlem restaurants.
