Dominican food is fresh ingredients and simple food. The addiction of spices and particular seasonings is what makes it pop. An Americanized version of these dishes can be found throughout Staten Island. They are adapted to American life by eliminating some of the exotic spices and flavors. 
This shows us that Dominican cuisine had an impact on American food as well as many other cultures. When we ordered our food we had a choice of meat, rice and a side dish, which also reflects the American way. Normally when a typical dinner is served there is meat, a starch and a vegetable, following the same basic patter of three different entities.
Dominican people normally eat a more filled plate than Americans do. Their portion sizes seem to be considerably bigger. This implies that their economy is growing and prospering, allowing them to enjoy a hearty amount of food.
I think the simplicity of their meals give us a glimpse into their culture by showing that they prepare a simple dish with a lot of flavor. They don’t need a lot of ingredients to make their meal terrific.
The restaurant we went to was called Dominican Food R.A Deli Corp. The owner is Dominican however his wife is Columbian and the workers are form Honduras and Mexico. 
Outside of the shop was very Dominican. The awning background was the Dominican flag and the signs on the windows were in both Spanish and English. When you walk inside you first walk into a deli and then you walk a little further back and you’re in the restaurant. On the inside the décor was very plane, simple and clean. The walls were white and the lighting was standard, no ambiance was provided. There were Easter decorations all over but nothing that stood out as dominantly religious. The music being played was in Spanish but it was softer music then the stereotypical crazy music.
The restaurant was buffet style where you pick meat, rice and a “topping” for your rice such as beans. This is a very typical style for a Dominican restaurant. The signs inside as well as the menu were in both English and Spanish; however most of the dishes have a name in Spanish that there is no English translation. The menu was not something you could hold, it was up on the wall and there wasn’t a good description of the food. You would have to know what you are ordering if you ordered off the menu.
There was roast pork, pork stew and white rice that would seem normal and somewhat “American” or familiar. On the other hand there were also things like intestine and stomach that would be more of a cultural delicacy. We just decided to pick what we wanted instead of ordering a specific meal. It just so happened that what we picked to eat was the most popular dish in the Dominican Republic. The most popular dish in the Dominican diet is “La bandera (the flag) is a popular national dish; the white rice and red beans remind people of the flag colors, hence the name. The third ingredient is stewed meat, and it is usually served with fried plantain and a salad.” (http://www.everyculture.com/Cr-Ga/Dominican-Republic.html)
The drinks were in a refrigerator, providing another self serve entity. In the case was “American” drinks such as Coke and Arizona Iced Tea, but there was also Goya Malta and flavored soda labeled in Spanish. Overall, the Dominican/Latino influence was definitely present but to cater to a large range of people there was a lot of “American” products. It is Americanized in the aspects that there were a lot of English translations. Also, the deli part sold typical “American” products such as Hershey bars Skittles, and Redbull. We think the point of not having extravagant decorations was to welcome people from all over without an overwhelming sense of culture. The most authentic elements of the deli would be the menu/food and the music playing.
The clientele would be very local. The people using the institution were from all walks of life. There were white, black, Asian and Hispanic patrons all enjoying the food. Almost every person that walked in knew exactly what he or she wanted even though half the menu was in Spanish.
The legal codes were not obvious, but in most restaurants they aren’t unless you are in the kitchen. However, the entire place seemed extremely clean and there were CPR and Heimlich maneuver posters on the back hallway walls.
When eating the food we are participating in the culture. For many cultures especially Hispanic cultures, food and cooking are a big staple in their life. By eating the food we are taking a glimpse into their everyday Dominican culture. We are putting ourselves in their shoes, seeing how it is to eat their food and experience their culture.
The other institution we went to was the Asian Food Market. Although it predominately sold a variety of Asian food, it did however sell Latino products as well. For example, they sold Goya wafers, Goya drinks, and other types of Hispanic sodas. The Latino products were placed in among the Asian goods. The people shopping were mainly Asians but we did however see some Latinos there as well. This institution also was Americanized in the way it had translations for Americans who are unfamiliar with the language.
