In the premiere episode of our new First We Feast mini-doc series Hungry for More, we visit Nene's Taqueria in Brooklyn, NY - serving up braised beef birria tacos in cheese-crusted homemade tortillas. After leaving Michelin star restaurant Jean-Georges as a cook, Andrés Galindo put everything on the line to open his own taqueria on the same block he grew up on in Bushwick. With his mom by his side, Nene's Taqueria has been drawing fans to Brooklyn - including NBA veteran JJ Redick, who calls Andrés' tacos "life-changing."

Some of New York’s most iconic dishes are rooted in classic Jewish deli cuisine - pastrami on rye, bagels and lox, matzo ball soup, and much more.

But for Elyssa Heller, founder of Edith’s sandwich shop in Brooklyn, Jewish food has a much broader definition - one that is influenced by the Jewish diaspora. From Portuguese chicken sausage to a lamb merguez sandwich from the Maghreb region of North Africa - Edith's menu explores the global flavors and cultural experience of Jewish cuisine.

In an area of Flatbush Brooklyn, known as “Little Caribbean,” the flavors of the islands are on every corner - with jerk chicken, oxtail stew, beef patties, and more. Locals Michael and Nicole Nicholas - aka Aunty Nic and Uncle Mike - wanted to bring the same flavors of their upbringing, but with a healthier twist. Their cafe, Aunts et Uncles, features home recipes with plant-based ingredients, such as the bake & saltfish - a classic and iconic Caribbean breakfast. Their cafe is a tribute to the culture of Flatbush - providing inspiration, comfort, and healthy cuisine to the community they love.

Originating in NYC, the chopped cheese is an iconic bodega sandwich consisting of a chopped up cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, hot sauce, mayonnaise, and ketchup. Now “Bodega Truck” owner Jeremy Batista is on a mission to spread old school bodega culture and bring the chopped cheese worldwide. Offering 6 different varieties, he believes his beloved sandwich can surpass the Philly cheesesteak in notoriety and popularity. And both visitors and NYC natives are taking notice - including hip-hop artist and chopped cheese aficionado Dave East, who claims the Bodega Truck has “got it.” Batista and the Bodega Truck are bringing back NYC nostalgia and showing that the sandwich has the chops to expand worldwide.

Bilao, a restaurant that opened at the height of the pandemic in Manhattan, was started by 3 Filipino nurses who worked at a nearby hospital. After working a night shift - nurses Jude Canela, Maricris Dinopol, and Joan Calanog left the hospital craving a taste of their homeland in the Philippines. Bilao serves up the ultimate Filipino comfort food such as Tocilog - a breakfast dish made up of garlic rice, fried eggs, tomatoes, and cured pork. With no local options to feed their craving - the 3 chose to open Bilao and in the process, feed the local community of healthcare and frontline workers.