This month, we’re celebrating the incredible contributions immigrants and refugees make to our local food economy and the essential role food plays in building bridges between cultures. For newcomers, starting a food business can be a pathway to economic independence and cultural expression. Restaurants and markets often serve as gateways for newcomers, offering familiar tastes and a sense of home in a new environment. For longtime residents, trying a new dish or shopping at an international market becomes an opportunity to engage with the world without ever leaving the city. Food becomes a common language—one that welcomes, unites, and celebrates. 

The growing food scene in the Cincinnati region has been deeply enriched by its immigrant communities. Chefs, bakers, vendors, food truck owners, and restaurateurs help define the city’s evolving identity, showing how culture and commerce come together in powerful, delicious ways. Immigrants and refugees have long been the heart and soul of our food culture and regional economy, bringing flavors from around the world to our neighborhoods. Check out a recent story by Katherin Barrier at City Beat for more about that history and more recent impacts: “Made with Love: How Immigrants are Shaping Cincinnati’s Food Culture”. Having a diverse food scene not only helps people feel a sense of belonging but is also a driver of talent attraction and retention. 

Food is a powerful connector and way for building community. This is a driving principle behind the region’s largest celebration of Asian food and culture, Asian Food Fest, which takes place this month! Come and join the celebration April 26th- 27th at the Court Street Plaza in downtown Cincinnati. The event will feature a record of 65 restaurants and food trucks along with 9 Secret Menus options. In addition to the many diverse food options, there will be great entertainment throughout the day and into the evening. 

The following weekend, May 3rd- 4th,  you will have an opportunity to celebrate Cincy-Cinco on Fountain Square. It is a wonderful event to build community and celebrate Latino communities, cultures, and traditions. There will be a wide range of entertainment, music, and, of course, food. Attendees will have an opportunity to make connections and learn about various organizations in the region supporting Hispanic and Latino community members. 

If you have ever attended our annual event Cincinnati Rhythm you’ve tasted the wonderful flavors from restaurant members of Findlay Kitchen: a key partner and food business incubator that helps food entrepreneurs start, grow and scale their businesses. 

In the Cincinnati metro area, immigrants and refugees are key drivers of the food and hospitality industry. From Yemeni coffee houses in Clifton to Guatemalan taquerias in Price Hill to Senegalese restaurants in Hartwell, these entrepreneurs not only bring unique flavors to our tables—they create jobs, revitalize neighborhoods, and offer gathering places where stories and traditions are shared over meals. They create spaces where newcomers and long-term residents alike find common ground. Sharing a meal can transform a stranger into a neighbor and a customer into a friend.