Ready for a meal you’ll feel good about? Immigrant Food, a DC-based restaurant with a focus on advocacy, opens its first Virginia location Tuesday in Ballston at the headquarters of The Nature Conservancy.
In a concept its founders call “gastroadvocacy,” the restaurant partners with five area non-governmental organizations to advocate for immigrants. It also spreads information about immigration-related topics in a monthly digital publication, The Think Table.
“Restaurants have always been the place where immigrants made a living, created community and showed off the cooking of their heritage,” according to the website. “We’re taking it a step further and also making this restaurant a place to advocate.”
The food also embodies that melting pot mentality, with dishes that incorporate flavors from around the globe. Drawing inspiration from international flavors and his own experience as a Japanese American immigrant, Chef Ben Murray will serve dishes such as Filipino fried chicken, tamarind ribs, Greek wings with lemon and feta dip, and burrata with Thai basil pesto, mostarda, and warm za’atar ciabatta.
Because the new space is located at the headquarters of The Nature Conservancy, a global conservation organization, Immigrant Food implemented eco-friendly practices into the restaurant to honor the partnership. These include sustainable construction practices and using recyclable materials in its catering and take-out programs.
The décor of this new space also emulates a nature-focused concept, with lush greenery and a large outdoor patio where diners can enjoy the food in the fresh air.
This eco-friendly partnership is also represented by a specialty cocktail available only in Ballston. The Kanha, named for Kanha National Park in Central India, incorporates Japanese shochu with flavors of basil, jalapeño, and cucumber.
This is the largest Immigrant Food location and the first outside of Washington, DC. There are three additional locations: one at the Planet Word museum, one on Pennsylvania Avenue near the White House, and one in the Union Market district. 4245 N. Fairfax Dr., Ste. 100, Arlington
Feature image of Indian samosas by Hawkeye Johnson
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