New York’s Chinatown Business Improvement District together with the New York Chinese Food Festival held an event on Pell Street last weekend, leveraging the high popularity of the city’s Department of Transportation’s open streets project. The organizers introduced Chinese snacks such as candied hawthorn, grilled skewers, sugarcane juice, as well as Hanfu cultural experiences, allowing New Yorkers to experience the diversity and culture of Chinese cuisine.
The New York Chinese Food Festival took place in Chinatown on May 25th and 26th, operating from noon until evening on both days. Cindy Zhang, the founder of the food festival, mentioned in an interview that there were about 11 vendors participating each day, with a focus on various kinds of snacks.
Zhang expressed that this year’s activities for the New York Chinese Food Festival have concluded, including a total of 26 days of food events in Chinatown, including the Mid-Autumn Festival. Plans for next year include continuing the event in Manhattan, hoping to attract more businesses to promote Chinese cuisine, and allowing the younger generation of New York’s Chinese community and other ethnicities to experience Hanfu culture.
As the founder of the New York Chinese Food Festival, Cindy Zhang emphasized the importance of the event coming from nothing to fruition. She mentioned that a significant amount of time was spent communicating with Chinatown businesses to help them understand the festival’s aim of driving business opportunities in the neighborhood.
“At the beginning, businesses were concerned about competing for customers, but now they understand and warmly welcome us to set up stalls,” Zhang said. “Another challenge was communicating with the vendors at the stalls, advising them not to sell the same products. In conclusion, the efforts in the early and later stages require a commitment to the community.”
Through the New York Chinese Food Festival, efforts are being made to bridge cultural gaps, promote local businesses, and enhance the understanding and appreciation of Chinese cuisine and traditions among diverse communities in the vibrant city of New York.