Sabor y Memoria: Dominican Culinary Life in NYC
This story explores Dominican food as memory, tradition, and resistance—showcasing how cuisine shapes family, culture, and community across New York City.
By CUNY Dominican Studies Institute
Jessy Pérez, CUNY Dominican Studies Institute Archivist, Dana Peña, Smithsonian YAP Intern, Jhensen Ortiz, CUNY Dominican Studies Institute Librarian,
A taste of home in a new city
Dominican immigrants brought their recipes, flavors, and memories to New York City, transforming kitchens into sanctuaries where tradition thrived and family stayed nourished, no matter how far from the island they were.
Thanksgiving with the Cabrera Family in New York City (1978-11-24) by Margarita MaderaCUNY Dominican Studies Institute
Family at the center of the table
Food is at the heart of Dominican family life. Whether it’s Nochebuena, Thanksgiving, or Sunday lunch, these gatherings bring generations together around sancocho, rice, beans, and laughter that fills every corner.
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Recipes in Transition
Next Stop Vegan, originally from the Bronx and now in Downtown Brooklyn, is leading by example as the first authentic Dominican plant-based restaurant, honoring tradition while redefining it with bold, health-conscious twists.
Traditional Dominican Birthday Celebration Photograph by Zunilda Fondeur (circa. 1980) by Zunilda FondeurCUNY Dominican Studies Institute
Flavor as resistance
From food festivals to crowded neighborhood kitchens, Dominican communities reclaim space through celebration. In the face of gentrification, events like El Festival del Platano transform cuisine into public, joyful protest—and affirm belonging in the heart of the city.
Dominican food defines the cultural landscape of New York City, especially in neighborhoods like Washington Heights, Inwood, The Bronx, and Corona, Queens. The cuisine is most concentrated in these areas, where restaurants, bakeries, and food stalls offer everything from empanadas to chicharrón. These vibrant spaces showcase the flavors and techniques of Dominican cooking, making this Caribbean cuisine a daily staple for locals and a draw for food lovers citywide.
Marina Maldonado’s Birthday in New York: A Family Moment (1980) by Normandía MaldonadoCUNY Dominican Studies Institute
Food as cultural legacy
At the center of most celebrations, you will find the Dominican cake--created with a decadent meringue that is iconic and unique to Dominican bakery.
More than sustenance, Dominican cuisine preserves stories. This exhibition celebrates the recipes that carry the language, memory, and resilience of a community that enriches New York City.
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