ATLANTIC CITY With the completion of the Chelsea Neighborhood Plan earlier this month, organizers wanted to continue to engage the community by implementing projects that reflected their priorities.
Supporting local businesses and highlighting diversity were two of the top goals, and to that end, ACDEVCO and the Chelsea Economic Development Corporation are sponsoring an empanada contest among 10 neighborhood restaurants during the month of August.
Empanada voters just have to buy and taste an empanada from two or more, or all 10 of the participating restaurants anytime during the month of August, and cast their vote for the best at www.ChelseaEDC.org.
Information about the restaurants and their empanadas are also on the site. Participating restaurants include Mexico, Sabor Salvadoreno , Queens, Mr. Taco, El Gran Chalan, Rincón Catracho, El Patron, Lenox Café, Chismosa's Kitchen at Celebrity Corner and Boom Market Café.
Chelsea's many restaurants are truly multi-cultural, just the empanada contestants reflect the flavors and customs of El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Peru, Honduras, and Colombia. These local businesses are well known in the Chelsea neighborhood and the organizers are hopeful that the empanada contest will introduce people from throughout the region to the International Food District of Chelsea.
The ethnic restaurants have always contributed to the energy and vitality of the neighborhood, and this summer outside dining has added to the excitement. ACDEVCO was delighted to assist several of the businesses with obtaining city approvals for outdoor dining.
Other top priorities for the Chelsea community expressed during the public input phase of the plan include beautification, youth programming and recreation, improved housing options and better paying jobs.
The Chelsea Neighborhood Plan will be used to apply for funding and can be found at www.ChelseaEDC.org.
