The folks at Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC) have worked in so many different ways to help empower immigrants and refugees throughout our state — and these days that includes helping communities hit hard by COVID-19 navigate safety precautions at work, testing, unemployment and relief.
But here’s another way TIRRC lifts up our immigrant and refugee neighbors. They help answer the question we all ask ourselves a few times a day: What should we eat?
After years of hosting the popular InterNASHional Food Crawl tours (this year offered through creative take-home packages like these Brunch Boxes available for pickup tomorrow), TIRRC has deep knowledge of the immigrant- and refugee-owned restaurant landscape. For the first time ever, they’ve complied a list of restaurant locations in a nearly 30-page, free document divided into seven sections (and subsections) including African, Asian, Middle Eastern/Mediterranean, Central American, Caribbean Nations, South American and European. It’s a living document they will continue to update.
“When businesses began to temporarily close to slow the spread of COVID-19 in March, we knew immigrant- and refugee-owned restaurants would be hit especially hard as many weren't able to access the confusing, limited paycheck protection program or didn't have the resources to quickly set up a takeout-only business model,” said Leah Hashinger, development director at TIRRC. “But local markets that were still serving the community on Nolensville Pike had eggs and toilet paper when no one else did, so we realized many people still weren't aware that these incredible businesses existed. That's when we decided to invest in building out a comprehensive guide of immigrant- and refugee-owned restaurants and markets across the city.”
In additional to well-known favorites, the guide is an excellent source for discovery and “travel” at a time when some of us long for new experiences through food.
“Our hope is that people will use the guide when thinking about where to get takeout or if they're looking to discover a great restaurant with dine-in options,” says Hashinger. “Our goal is to help connect Nashvillians to our city's authentic and delicious dining scene that's unfortunately far too often overlooked.”
Download the guide on the InterNASHional website: nashvillefoodcrawl.com/dining-guide.
