It took for me to move from Richmond Hill, NY to really appreciate all that the neighborhood has to offer. I’ve lived there since I was 11 years old until just a year ago, so all the gloss wore off a long time ago. When I moved to Atlanta, I was forced to seek all that was so readily available in what is known as “Little Guyana.”

Threading my eyebrows

On my recent trip back home to visit family I decided that I should showcase this little gem in Queens, NY, a place where u can easily find a dhal gutney or brined pigtails.  Richmond Hill is known far and wide by most Guyanese that live in New York, it is the place to go if you need anything from back home. Have I taken it for granted? I most certainly have.

A local grocery store abundant with vegetables

As I walk down the stretch of Liberty Ave from 125th street to Lefferts Blvd, I pass multiple Roti shops, Sari and Pooja stores, Grocery stores abundant with produce and many Guyanese clinging to this little piece of home in a foreign land.

A local Sari and Pooja store

I’ve watched the neighborhood evolve into what it is today, a close knit community where u find generations of families who have migrated and planted new roots.

A local reading a newspaper on the corner

In the past 2 weeks, I’ve had the pleasure of feasting on everything from lamb gyro, Guyanese Chinese food and a bit of Trinidadian food. Solo soft drink from Trinidad and Icee from GuyanaMy belly has never been happier; I do believe I will return home a few pounds heavier. I relished the fact that I could take a 1 block walk to liberty and buy all the ingredients I would need to make a Metemgee or if I’m not in the mood to cook I could just as easily buy it.Yum! The streets are dotted with vendors selling mangoes with pepper, plantain chips and snow cone with condensed milk. 

A street vendor

So for those who are unable to take the 5 hour flight to South America but need a dose of Guyana I urge you to check out “Little Guyana.”

Hehe..a Tin nin cup/enamel cup