The Taste of Côte D’Ivoire in New York

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With a population of over 16 million, the Ivory Coast stands as the 6th largest francophone country by population.

It is estimated that there are about 3000 people of Ivorian descent in the United States, most of whom call New York City or Washington DC their home.

 

Although this population is relatively small, wherever it is, the Ivorian American presence is certainly felt – or tasted. 

With the goal of “eating the world” in New York City, one happy critic of the restaurant New Ivoire in East Harlem claims: “the owner would sit with them at times, giving the place a very friendly local feel. As newcomers we did not stand out at all though, even if my spotty French was not quite enough at times to describe what I wanted.”

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And if you’re craving Ivorian food, you can get exactly what it is that you want. Either there or in one of the numerous West African restaurants that are sprinkled throughout the City. It is there where you might ‘taste’ other aspects of the country as well, including a soccer match on one of the TV screens, the sound of Alpha Blondy, Côte D’Ivoire’s best known singer, or the sight a traditional wood carving on the wall.

 

If you’re in the mood to experience the culture through dance, New York’s own Ivorian-American, Vado Diomande, leads West African dance classes at the Alvin Ailey Extension Center in Manhattan.

 

 

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The food, the tradition, and the art are not the only things that categorize the Ivorian people. Above all, as many have described the interactions with Ivorian-Americans ( and as their national anthem emphasizes) the Ivorian people are ones of ultimate friendliness from the «Pays de l'hospitalité ».

 

For more information on the restaurants mentioned above, please refer to the link below:

                The New Ivoire

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