Culture

For many people, their concept of Africa has been shaped by images of war, famine, and drought.  To the contrary, Africa has always had some of the most fertile land in the world.  Those suitable growing conditions allowed for a thriving diversity of plants. By creatively utilizing this wide assortment, Africans developed dishes that arguably are unparalleled.

Of the 11 million Africans that survived the horrendous voyage to the New World, only about 450,000 came to the United States. The remaining 9.5 million settled in Latin America and the Caribbean. A country like Cuba, which is 88 times smaller than the U.S., received twice as many slaves as America. Brazil received 10 times more than the U.S. Slave ships brought crops such as rice, okra, black-eye peas, cassava, yams, plantains, and lima beans for enslaved Africans to consume during their passage. These crops eventually were cultivated in the Americas and became staples of many of the cultures. From the various wars of independence, to the culture in general, history has been rewritten to exclude the vast contributions Africans made to Latin American countries. Alma's intent in part is to correct the record.

Our staff utilizes traditional preparations and ingredients as a basis, while incorporating innovative concepts.  Dishes run the gamut from mild to spicy. Although many of the offerings can be viewed as comfort food, we provide a number of options for vegetarians and those desiring more health-conscious meals. The intense flavors come not necessarily from frying foods in heavy oils, but rather from the delicate blend of spices. As a result, Alma's menu suits all palates, including those seeking a healthy meal and those making their selections solely based on taste.