Dine Around the World in Six Dishes

The buzzing melting pot of flavors and cultures found in Lower Manhattan can be enough to make your stomach growl and your wanderlust kick in. And while you can’t always sample every global cuisine in one day, this mission is possible at Dine Around Downtown, which is why we’re sharing six international dishes to add to your itinerary. So grab your camera and journal, because these foods featured at this year’s Dine Around Downtown community food festival will take you on your very own “Eat, Pray, Love” journey, no passport required (eats provided by our restaurants, pray and love sold separately). And be sure to join us on June 4 at Fosun Plaza at 28 Liberty St. starting at 11 a.m. for this multi-culti a la carte feast! 

Pão de Queijo from Café Patoro

Café Patoro (223 Front St.) was born of necessity. Its founder, Ahla, couldn’t find her favorite childhood food from Brazil when she moved to New York City, so she created the Seaport mainstay to serve her beloved pão de queijo. The warm and cheesy, naturally gluten-free buns are a breakfast and snack time staple in Brazil, and now in Lower Manhattan as well.

Mango Lassi from Benares

Whether you’ve indulged in a spicy meal or the late spring sunshine is simply too hot to bear, Benares (45 Murray St.) has you covered with its mango lassi. The sweet, yogurt-based drink is an Indian favorite for good reason — and the perfect way to beat the heat.

Traditional Uzbek Plov from Farida

If you haven’t yet tried it (and if you have, you’ll order it again) you must try his historical Uzbek main dish of lamb and beef, rice, carrots and chickpeas from Farida (32 Cedar St.). The Central Asian halal jewel box of a restaurant is one of the most unique in Lower Manhattan, and its signature dairy free and gluten-free dish is a delicious adventure of flavor.

Elote from Mezcali

No food festival is complete without Mexican street corn, or elote. Grilled corn smothered in a creamy mayo sauce, chili powder and cheese is hard to beat in any context, and this offering from SoCal Mexican spot Mezcali (83 Maiden Ln.) is no exception. 

Spicy Salmon Roll from Mikado

Mikado (164 Pearl St.) is one of the newest restaurants in the neighborhood, and a very welcome addition. The local chainlet’s Japanese menu features all of your go-to sushi orders with high-quality ingredients (and super cute to-go packaging). Its spicy salmon roll — a fan favorite — is fresh, filling and tasty enough to make you forget all about your next big meeting, even if only for a few minutes.

Italian Panini from Best Sicily Bottega

If there’s one thing we know, it’s that Lower Manhattanites love panini. Treat yourself to a taste of the Mediterranean with Best Sicily Bottega’s (87 Beaver St.) Italian panini, a delicious (and Instagram-famous) marriage of traditional Italian flavors with authentic ingredients that will make you dream about la dolce vita all day long.

photo: left courtesy Farida, right courtesy Best Sicily Bottega