Immigrant Food
38°53′58″N 77°02′23″W / 38.8995°N 77.0398°W
| Immigrant Food | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | November 12, 2019 |
| Owner(s) |
|
| Head chef | Enrique Limardo |
| Food type | Fusion cuisine |
| Street address | 1701 Pennsylvania Avenue NW |
| City | Washington, D.C. |
| Postal/ZIP Code | 20006 |
| Country | United States |
| Website | immigrantfood.com |
Immigrant Food is a fast-casual restaurant located at 1701 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C. It was founded by chef Enrique Limardo, Téa Ivanovic, Peter Schechter, and Ezequiel Vázquez-Ger, and opened on November 12, 2019.[1][2][3] Located near the White House, the restaurant combines its food offerings with pro-immigrant activism.[4][5]
Immigrant Food serves fusion cuisine from China, El Salvador, Ethiopia, and other countries.[6] Its menu is prepared by Limardo.[7]
The restaurant engages in what they refer to as "gastroadvocacy", accepting donations and signing up volunteers, as well as working as a hub for non-profits to host events helping immigrants find jobs and learn English.[8]
History
[edit]Immigrant Food opened its doors on November 12, 2019 one block away from the White House. Its founders, Enrique Limardo, Téa Ivanovic, Peter Schechter, and Ezequiel Vázquez-Ger, are immigrants themselves, having come to the US from Venezuela, Belgium, Italy, and Argentina, respectively.[3][1]
Peter Schechter's background was in political consulting and advocacy, as well as serving on the board of another restaurant company, ThinkFoodGroup. He's also been given credit for coming up with the premise behind the restaurant as a way to fight against the growing anti-immigrant sentiment in the US.[8] Limbardo and Vazquez-Ger owned another restaurant together called Seven Reasons that had received recognition from Esquire.[9] Ivanovic's background was in journalism and public relations.[10]
Immigrant Food's opening day coincided with the Supreme Court's first day of arguments over Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, surrounding then President Trump's proposed removal of the program.[5] That same day the restaurant posted a picture on Instagram of one of their tote bags on the courthouse steps and posted information about DACA on their website.[8] Schechter insists the restaurant isn't purely political. He stated, "Food has been a quintessential way that immigrants have shown their culture to Americans for so many centuries, to show what makes up home," and that he thought a restaurant was the way to highlight immigrant contributions.[9]
Immigrant Food opened two more Washington, D.C. locations in 2021: a food stall at Union Market on May 12,[11] and an "offshoot" location, Immigrant Food+, in the Planet Word museum on October 7.[12][13] On July 23, 2024, the restaurant opened a location in the Ballston neighborhood of Arlington County, Virginia.[14]
Advocacy
[edit]Immigrant Food partners with five non-governmental organizations: Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center, Ayuda, Capital Area Immigrants' Rights Coalition, CASA, and CARECEN, all of which use the restaurant's upstairs space for meetings and events, including English, job search, and citizenship classes.[15][16][5] Immigrant Food's work has been called "gastro-advocacy," and its educational materials are critical of the Trump administration's immigration policies.[8][17] Customers are given what's referred to as an "engagement menu" that provides a list of ways to get involved with supporting immigrant communities.[3] One themed event hosted in 2022 was a brunch for the celebration of vaccines, and immigrants' contributions to vaccine development. One prop used at the brunch was a syringe-style ketchup dispenser given with fries. A percentage of the proceeds from the event was donated to Mary's Center a local non-profit that provides healthcare services to under-served communities in the D.C. area and Maryland.[18]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Carman, Tim (November 12, 2019). "A new D.C. restaurant will promote immigrant causes right in Trump's front yard". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 16, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
- ^ Spiegel, Anna (October 3, 2019). "An Advocacy Restaurant Called "Immigrant Food" Is Opening by the White House". Washingtonian. Archived from the original on March 17, 2020. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
- ^ a b c Stengel, Geri. "Immigrant Food: Restaurants With A Mission". Forbes. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
- ^ "'Immigrant Food' Restaurant, Trump's New Neighbor". NPR. Archived from the original on December 8, 2019. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
- ^ a b c Garrett, Brianne (November 14, 2019). "A Restaurant Serving Immigrant Causes Opens Steps Away From The White House". Forbes. Archived from the original on September 25, 2020. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
- ^ Adkins, Lenore (November 11, 2019). "A New Fast-Casual Place Called Immigrant Food Preaches 'Gastroadvocacy' in Trump's Backyard". Eater DC. Archived from the original on June 25, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
- ^ Yagoda, Maria (November 8, 2019). "'Immigrant Food' Restaurant Is Opening Next to the White House". Food & Wine. Archived from the original on January 6, 2020. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
- ^ a b c d Shoichet, Catherine E. (November 16, 2019). "A restaurant called 'Immigrant Food' just opened a block from the White House". CNN. Video by Mackenzie Happe. Archived from the original on November 19, 2019. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
- ^ a b "First Look: Immigrant Food Is Fast-Casual Fare With An Activist Bent". DCist. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
- ^ Sernovitz, Daniel J (October 21, 2022). "Téa Ivanovic Co-founder and chief operating officer, Immigrant Food". Washington Business Journal. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
- ^ Plumb, Tierney (May 12, 2021). "Immigrant Food Brings Its Brand of Fast-Casual Fusion Into Union Market". Eater DC. Archived from the original on September 21, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
- ^ Plumb, Tierney (October 1, 2021). "Immigrant Food's Fancy New Offshoot Serves Fusion Dim Sum Inside a Museum Downtown". Eater DC. Archived from the original on May 27, 2022. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
- ^ Clabaugh, Jeff (October 6, 2021). "DC's Immigrant Food opens museum restaurant at Planet Word". WTOP-FM. Archived from the original on June 11, 2022. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
- ^ Kanowitz, Stephanie (July 23, 2024). "Immigrant Food Opens in Ballston". Arlington Magazine. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
- ^ Somvichian-Clausen, Austa (November 11, 2019). "'Immigrant Food' opens a block away from the White House". The Hill. Archived from the original on February 14, 2020. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
- ^ Lozano, Gabby (March 2020). "Immigrant Food Attracts Many with Gastroadvocacy". Food Tank. Archived from the original on April 20, 2020. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
- ^ "Two Beating Hearts: D.C.'s Immigrant Food Combines Gastronomy + Advocacy". District Fray. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
- ^ "Local restaurant gives back to non-profit after hosting vaccine themed brunch". DC News Now | Washington, DC. January 21, 2022. Retrieved February 8, 2025.