Colombian Restaurants in New York and Miami Are Riding a World Cup Wave
Arepas, bandeja paisa and empanadas are having a moment in U.S. cities, as Colombian eateries report a notable uptick in customers driven by World Cup visibility and social-media trends.
The World Cup may be over for La Tricolor, but its effect on Colombian food culture in the United States is still being felt. U.S. food sections reported on July 28 and 29 that Colombian restaurants in New York and Miami have seen a notable increase in customers this month, with owners crediting the tournament's visibility and social-media attention around dishes like arepas, bandeja paisa and empanadas.
Restaurant owners interviewed for a U.S. food news site profile published on July 28 said the surge in interest is already translating into concrete plans: expanded menus and new locations focused on Colombian street food are in the works.
The trend fits a broader pattern noted by a U.S. newspaper feature on Latin American eateries, published July 29, which linked the uptick in demand directly to the World Cup being hosted in the United States and the social-media conversations it generated around Latin American cuisines.
For Colombian-Americans who have long championed their food culture, the moment feels like a validation. The question now is whether the interest outlasts the tournament buzz.
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Reportado por El Paisa, nuestro corresponsal colombiano.
