The hot dog and its significance
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The stories about hot dogs and curries that Bald recounts in the text stood out to me. The string of Indian Muslim hot dog vendors, "selling from pushcarts up and down Madison, Lexington, and Third Avenues", has a particular image of adaptation, illustrating how these Indian men carved out a space for themselves in the bustling, competitive streets of New York (Bald, 173). They embraced an iconic American food (the hot dog) out of necessity; their presence, marked by pushcarts, speaks to deeper narratives of survival and labour in a city where they were both visible and invisible. There was a huge contribution to the culinary and social landscape of the city and one that goes largely unspoken.
The connections between people within the neighbourhoods where they were sold also deepened, as the carts were used as a source of safety and sociability. They were the starting ground for the restaurants and businesses in later years that bloomed from the culinary scene. To have a safe(r) haven within New York, and even within Harlem, where people could speak in "Bengali or Urdu or English" and discuss the politics of back home without fear of surveillance or judgment, created a critical sense of community and belonging (160). The hot dog carts and restaurants became more than just food vendors; they were gathering points for Bengali Muslims and other immigrants who shared common experiences of displacement and marginalisation. In these informal spaces, people could reconnect with their heritage, share news and find comfort in familiar languages and faces. This sense of solidarity not only offered respite from the racial tensions and economic hardships of the city but also laid the groundwork for future restaurants and businesses that would anchor South Asian identity within the American urban fabric.
I wonder if the prevalence of hot dog carts and the subsequent rise of Bengali-run restaurants reflect the American Dream as experienced by immigrant communities. Chapter Five illustrates that while these pushcarts symbolised a certain degree of economic opportunity and survival, they also exposed the limitations of the American Dream for many South Asian immigrants, facing clear systemic barriers to upward mobility. The hot dog, an emblem of American culture, became a vehicle for these men to enter the marketplace; however, their contributions often went unrecognised, underscoring the invisibility of immigrant labour within the narrative of American success. -
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.