A Taste of the World in Boston

Pupusas
Pupusas
Plain pupusas, a traditional Salvadorian side | Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Let’s face it. Many so-called international restaurants in the United States cater to American tastes. That doesn’t mean, however, that authentic ethnic cuisine doesn’t exist. There will always be chefs that will stay true to their roots and leave out the American flavors, especially in big cities. Boston is no exception.

Italian: Americans eat a lot of Italian-inspired dishes, but you’re going to have to avoid the Olive Garden if you’re looking for the real thing. In fact, you’re going to have to avoid a lot of restaurants. Cooking is considered an art form in Italy, and Italians are very particular about the ingredients they use. For the best choice in the Boston area, Rome native Adolfo Gatti (CAS ’13) is the authority. “Erase any suggestion given to you in the north end,” Gatti warns. “Anything that sells chicken parm, or chicken in any kind of pasta, is fake.” Gatti recommends Gran Gusto in Cambridge. Giuseppe Castellano, who is part owner and head chef of the restaurant, resided and worked in Italy before coming to the United States. The restaurant also imports over 80-percent of its products from Italy every week. Gran Gusto’s prices run a little on the expensive side, but for real Italian food, it’s worth it.

Latin American: In the United States, Latin American countries usually have all of their different cuisines mixed into one restaurant. Luckily, this doesn’t mean that the food is any less authentic. East Boston is the place to go for Latin American food. The majority of East Boston’s population is Latin American. East Boston is also the home of Pupuseria Mama Blanca, which serves amazing and authentic Hispanic cuisine at a great price. The restaurant, which only has a few tables but offers a take-out option, considers itself an international restaurant. The restaurant serves more than just Latin American food: it offers some West Indian inspired dishes, as well. The menu is simple, and most dishes cost around $12 or less, but the portions are large and filling. Most plates come with rice and beans, a salad, and pupusas, which are traditional Salvadorian maize flour tortillas. Another indicator of Mama Blanca’s authenticity is its empanadas. As opposed to the meat and cheese filled puff pastries that most Latin American nations call empanadas, Mama Blanca serves Salvadorian empanadas, which are balls of plantain and sweet cream that are lightly fried and sprinkled with sugar.

Ethiopian: If you’re looking for something new that’s still authentic, Ethiopian food is a great choice. Ethiopian cuisine usually consists of spicy meat or vegetable stews, which are traditionally eaten with injera – a tortilla-like flat bread – instead of utensils. Bruk Mesfin (SMG ’13), who is originally from Ethiopia, says that Blue Nile in Jamaica Plain is the way to go for authentic Ethiopian food. Blue Nile offers many traditional dishes at very reasonable prices (around $11 a plate). Another perk about Ethiopian food? Due to the fact that the Ethiopian Orthodox religion has frequent periods of fasting, many traditional dishes are vegan.

So, if you’re looking for something other than chicken wings and fries for a change, Boston offers a wide range of authentic ethnic cuisine.

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