Utica-Area Restaurants Celebrate Arab Restaurant Week
SOURCE: UTICAOD.COM
BY: OBSERVER-DISPATCH
In recognition of Arab American Heritage Month, several local restaurants have joined together to offer an Arab Restaurant Week this week.
The event is sponsored by Habibi, a secular network of Arab American women in the greater Utica area.
Six restaurants in Utica, New Hartford and Yorkville will participate, with each offering one or more dishes as a special throughout the week. The week’s festivities also include a display of books on Arab culture at the Utica Public Library and a free screening of the movie “Amreeka” at 7 p.m. today at The Other Side, 2011 Genesee St., in Utica.
“Amreeka” is the story of a Palestinian woman and her teenage son who “cope with culture clash and more as they try to build a new life in rural Illinois,” according to a news release.
Christine Shahin, local Arab America Ambassador and coordinator of the week’s events, said in the release that it’s important for Arab Americans to honor the contributions their culture has been making to the U.S. for more than a century. That culture includes the traditions of more than 20 different racially and religiously diverse countries that are tied together by the Arabic language, the release states.
“We thought, what better way to celebrate Arab contributions to America, and the world, than sharing our rich history of cultural hospitality, food, literature, and art,” said Selwa Zogby Stemmer, founding member of Habibi, in the release. “These are the foundation of understanding and therefore peace.”
Restaurants participating in Arab Restaurant Week and the specials they’re offering are:
• Hummus & Taboulleh, 675 Bleecker St., Utica — chicken fata
• Karam’s Middle East Bakery, 137 Campbell Ave., Yorkville — stuffed cabbage roll or Lebanese salad with marinated chicken
• Grapevine, 120 Genesee St., New Hartford Shopping Center — gyro bowl (choice of chicken, beef, lamb or vegetable with rice and salad)
• Phoenician, 623 French Road, New Hartford — chicken kabob special
• Zeina’s Cafe, 607 Varick St., Utica — lubee, baba ganouche, grape leaves