Michelin-starred women chefs and Palestinian culinary pride in NYC

New York City -- In New York City's changing culinary landscape, a neighborhood gem, The Musket Room, has maintained its Michelin star for an impressive 12 years. This establishment distinguishes itself through its strong female leadership. Owner Jennifer Vitagliano and her twin sister and business partner Nicole Vitagliano, along with Executive Chef Mary Attea and Executive Pastry Chef Camari Mick, form the core team driving the restaurant's success.

"And our FNB (Food and Beverage) director, our wine director, our head bartender here. There's just a lot of really strong women who feel really comfortable in this space and in their roles, probably because, in part of my leadership," said Vitagliano, "But I think we're still kind of over delivering. I think we're still a little bit underestimated, especially as we were starting to grow our own business, Elizabeth City Hospitality. We have three restaurants now."

Camari Mick, known for her innovative approach to ingredients and techniques while honoring their origins, expressed a deep sense of obligation to incorporate her heritage into her pastries. The current menu features her creation, "Birch Custard with Mostarda, Sourdough & Fermented Blueberry."

"When you go to school and you bring your cultural food, they were like 'Oh ew, its nasty. Ew, why does it smell like that?'...now I have the platform to be a Michelin star chef, I feel like it is my responsibility to one not only put myself and my heritage on the plate, but I need to be able to put the future generation on the plate too, and...have them identify where, like 'If she can do it, I can definitely do it'," Mick said.

A few blocks from The Musket Room, Ayat, a Palestinian restaurant, also demonstrates the unifying power of food and community. Founded by Abdul Elenani in 2020 and named after his wife, Ayat Masoud, the restaurant aims to promote Palestinian culture and challenge negative stereotypes through its authentic cuisine.

"Food in general is a common language. Taste is a common language. So as long as you're just able to have that common language of taste and be open minded to the taste of food and exploring different types of food, you'll always be connected somehow, somewhere, wherever you go," Elenani said.

One of Ayat's signature dishes, demonstrated by Chef Ahmed Almeh, is Mansaf, a traditional meal featuring tender lamb simmered in a fermented yogurt sauce.

Each year, Ayat hosts a public, free Iftar, breaking fast during Ramadan, for the community, distributing 3,000 plates. This underscores the restaurant's mission in fostering togetherness.

"When my husband opened the restaurant, I said let people know the beauty of our culture through our food, because Arabs have been generally known for their hospitality. Palestinians are very hospitable people," said Masoud.

Contact Information:
The Musket Room is located at 265 Elizabeth St, New York, NY 10012.
Ayat East Village is located at 107 Loisaida Ave, New York, NY 10009.