STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Over 500 attendees converged in the Sacred Heart School’s gym Sunday afternoon for an expansive feast representative of Staten Island’s diverse population. The menu du jour featured noshes from around the globe, courtesy of borough chefs, Richmond County District Attorney Michael E. McMahon and the Staten Island Hate Crimes Task Force.
Dona Kiriella with a plate of Sri Lankan and Middle Eastern fare. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri
The message driven home by McMahon at the free West Brighton gathering: “celebrate the rich and diverse cultures of Staten Island” and “hate has no home in our borough.”
Deliciousness with rice and deviled eggs by Dona Kiriella (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri
Following the blessings by several local religious and community leaders, guests chowed down on dumplings, shawarma, falafal, Shepherd’s pie, South of the Border fare, soul food plus dozens of dishes representing five continents.
Imam Zuqarnain Abdu-Shahid, left, of Bait-Ul-Jamaat House of Community and Rich Salinardi, executive director of the Lifestyles for the Disabled. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri
Food blogger Elena Demonrtreux of Westerleigh favored the Israeli and Pakistani booths. She raved, “I had an awesome time getting to experience so many different cultures and trying food from all over the world — right here on Staten Island under one roof!”
A little bit of Sri Lanka in the house (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri
She also has a newfound love for Israeli foods and samosas, fried dough pockets filled with potatoes and spices from the Indian table.
Praise for the festivities and food came from the Public Administrator Edwina Martin and Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis. Malliotakis shared, “My favorite was the German shepherd’s pie.”
Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis and the Children’s Museum’s Dina Rosenthal. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri
She added, “Staten Island is culturally diverse and this event gives residents an opportunity to explore different ethnic foods from the countries of which our families hail. I really enjoyed celebrating and experiencing all the cultures currently represented in our unique borough. Events like this truly bring our community together.”
A plate of food that merges an Irish-themed cupcake with Indian, Sri Lankan, Turkish and Israeli fare. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri
Food came from cooks of Al-Hamza restaurant and market of Concord, the Asian American Labor and Community Organization, Bait-Ul Jamaat House of Community, Burrito Bar of West Brighton, the Chinese American Community Service, Momma D’s House of Port Richmond, Nurnberger Bierhouse of West Brighton, the Pakistani Civic Association, the Port Richmond High School’s Culinary School, the Staten Island Hindu Temple of Sunnyside, The Point Tavern of West Brighton, Yolpaqui Taqueria of Port Richmond and Zara Cafe and Grill of Dongan Hills and (soon coming) Graniteville.
Baile Folclorico of the La Colmena Folcioricio. Dancers at the Multicultural Food Festival on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. (Courtesy of RCDA)
Even the United Federation of Teachers pitched in with a tray of collard greens and oxtails. It was presented alongside soul food from Sally’s Southern, West Brighton.
From left to right: District Attorney Michael E. McMahon, Zion Dacosta, Antoinnette Donegan and Public Administrator Edwina Martin. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri
Said Susan Anderson who repped the West Brighton eatery and helped serve UFT donation, “Sally’s Southern and BBQ is honored to participate in the festival. It is very important to owner/chef Peter Botros and our Bread & Butter Hospitality’s family of restaurants to support our community.”
The UFT’s donation of collards and oxtails. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri
The entire effort also featured colorful, rousing performances from Baile Folclorico, La Colmena Folcclorico with instructor Martha Zarate; the Tamil Harvest Song by the Staten Island Tamil School of Ilankai Tamil Sangam; the Yangge Dance by the Staten Island Yangge Unit guided by instructor Joanne Liu; and a Qipao Show Slow Tune by Staten Island Graceful Stepping.
Baile Folclorico from La Comena Folciorico (Courtesy of RCDA)
The Staten Island Hate Crimes Task Force bridged support for the festival from the following groups: the Albanian Islamic Cultural Center; American Association of Retired People’s New Dorp Chapter; Asian American Labor and Community Organization; Central Family Life Center; Chinese American Community Service; Citizens Commissions on Human Rights; Community Agency for Senior Citizens; Coptic Orthodox Chruch of Arch Angel Michael and St. Mena and the Council of Jewish Organizations.
The Qipao Show Slow Tune by the Staten Island Graceful Stepping group. (Courtesy of RCDA)
Additional participation came from El Centro Del Inmigrante; Essential Health Services; Integrity Senior Services; Islamic Center of Staten Island; Jamaica and Caribbean Organization of Staten Island, the Jewish Community Center of Staten Island; La Colmena NYC; Lifestyles for the Disabled; Masjid Al Noor Islamic Society; Mount Sinai United Christian Church; New York Korean Evangelical Church; Pride Center of Staten Island; Project Hospitality; St. Philip’s Baptist Church; Staten Island Center for Independent Living; Staten Island Curdwara Sahib; Staten Island Hindu Temple; United Federation of Teachers; Virign Mary and St. George Orthodox Church and the Wagner College Holocaust Center.
“The world right now is transitioning to a brighter, healthier day. Allow us to use cuisine to help lead us in a loving way,” said Mendy Mirocznik, president of COJO, Council of Jewish Organizations.
Pamela Silvestri is Advance Food Editor. She can be reached at [email protected].
The Tamil Harvest Song by the members of the Staten Island Tamil School of Ilankai Tamil Sangam (Courtesy of RCDA)
The Tamil Harvest Song by the members of the Staten Island Tamil School of Ilankai Tamil Sangam (Courtesy of RCDA)
A very elegant dance: The Qipao Show Slow Tune by the Staten Island Graceful Stepping group. (Courtesy of RCDA)
The Tamil Harvest Song by the members of the Staten Island Tamil School of Ilankai Tamil Sangam (Courtesy of RCDA)
Dancers at the Multicultural Food Festival on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. (Courtesy of RCDA)
– The Multicultural Food Festival at Sacred Heart School, West Brighton, sponsored by the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office’s Michael E. McMahon included food from five continents. Pamela SilvestriPamela Silvestri
Fr. Rhey Garcia of Sacred Heart greets parishioner Vincent D’Antuono, this day serving Pastosa food from the Sacred Heart School gym, and Public Administrator Edwina Martin. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri
Spring rolls from the Chinese American Community Service group. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri
A plate of Sri Lankan fare from the borough with the largest Sri Lankan population outside of Sri Lanka. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri
Over 500 guests turned out to the Sunday event. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri
Nithiananda Chatterjie hits the Sri Lankan section of the buffet which offered dozens of dishes, both sweet and savory. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri
Israeli foods had its own section of display. Some foods hailed from Zara in Dongan Hills. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri
The gym at Sacred Heart on Sunday (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri
Radhakrishna Mohan of the New York State Public Employees Federation AFL CIO partaking in the halal fare at the festival. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri
Prayers and good wishes before breaking bread: from left to right: Scott Maurer, CEO of COJO; Tajir Kukaj, the Imam/Head of Department of Islamic Studies at Miraj Islamic School/Vice President of the Albanian Islamic Cultural Center/NYPD Chaplain; Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, president of the Council of Jewish Organizations of Staten Island; and Imam Zulqarnain Abdu-Shahid of House of Community Bait-Ul Jamaat. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri
– The Multicultural Food Festival at Sacred Heart School, West Brighton, sponsored by the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office’s Michael E. McMahon included food from five continents. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri
Fr. Rhey Garcia of Sacred Heart R.C. Church and District Attorney Michael E. McMahon. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri
– The Multicultural Food Festival at Sacred Heart School, West Brighton, was a free event. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri
– The Multicultural Food Festival at Sacred Heart School, West Brighton, sponsored by the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office’s Michael E. McMahon included food from five continents. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri
The well-attended event ran for three hours and featured entertainment and a DJ. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri
Some food came from Hindu temple cooks of Sunnyside. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri
A prayer before the partaking. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri
Michael E. McMahon with Burrito Bar owners Kim Beckett and Andrew Greenfield. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri
Imam Zuqarnain Abdu-Shahid, left, of Bait-Ul-Jamaat House of Community serves Rich Salinardi, executive director of the Lifestyles for the Disabled. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri
– The Multicultural Food Festival at Sacred Heart School, West Brighton, sponsored by the Richmond County District Attorney’s (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri
A feast for hundreds (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri
Ron Cole of New Dorp’s Style-O-Pedic fame savored Sri Lankan and Israeli fare. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri
Service with smiles (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri
Two of New York’s Finest (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri
– The Multicultural Food Festival at Sacred Heart School, West Brighton, sponsored by the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office’s Michael E. McMahon included food from five continents. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Pamela Silvestri
Food from New China Buffet’s staff and family. The Multicultural Food Festival at Sacred Heart School, West Brighton, sponsored by the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office’s Michael E. McMahon included food from five continents. Pamela SilvestriPamela Silvestri
– The Multicultural Food Festival at Sacred Heart School, West Brighton, sponsored by the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office’s Michael E. McMahon included food from five continents. Pamela SilvestriPamela Silvestri
– The Multicultural Food Festival at Sacred Heart School, West Brighton, sponsored by the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office’s Michael E. McMahon included food from five continents. Pamela SilvestriPamela Silvestri
– The Multicultural Food Festival at Sacred Heart School, West Brighton, sponsored by the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office’s Michael E. McMahon included food from five continents. Pamela SilvestriPamela Silvestri
– The Multicultural Food Festival at Sacred Heart School, West Brighton, sponsored by the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office’s Michael E. McMahon included food from five continents. Pamela SilvestriPamela Silvestri
Liz and Vincent D’Antuono of Pastosa. The Multicultural Food Festival at Sacred Heart School, West Brighton, sponsored by the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office’s Michael E. McMahon included food from five continents. Pamela SilvestriPamela Silvestri
The Hon. Edwina Martin, Public Administrator. The Multicultural Food Festival at Sacred Heart School, West Brighton, sponsored by the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office’s Michael E. McMahon included food from five continents. Pamela SilvestriPamela Silvestri
– The Multicultural Food Festival at Sacred Heart School, West Brighton, sponsored by the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office’s Michael E. McMahon included food from five continents. Pamela SilvestriPamela Silvestri
– The Multicultural Food Festival at Sacred Heart School, West Brighton, sponsored by the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office’s Michael E. McMahon included food from five continents. Pamela SilvestriPamela Silvestri
Susan Anderson. The Multicultural Food Festival at Sacred Heart School, West Brighton, sponsored by the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office’s Michael E. McMahon included food from five continents. Pamela SilvestriPamela Silvestri
The Multicultural Food Festival at Sacred Heart School, West Brighton, sponsored by the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office’s Michael E. McMahon included food from five continents. Pamela SilvestriPamela Silvestri
– The Multicultural Food Festival at Sacred Heart School, West Brighton, sponsored by the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office’s Michael E. McMahon included food from five continents. Pamela SilvestriPamela Silvestri
– The Multicultural Food Festival at Sacred Heart School, West Brighton, sponsored by the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office’s Michael E. McMahon included food from five continents. Pamela SilvestriPamela Silvestri
– The Multicultural Food Festival at Sacred Heart School, West Brighton, sponsored by the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office’s Michael E. McMahon included food from five continents. Pamela SilvestriPamela Silvestri
– The Multicultural Food Festival at Sacred Heart School, West Brighton, sponsored by the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office’s Michael E. McMahon included food from five continents. Pamela SilvestriPamela Silvestri
Source: silive.com
