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The diversity of Montgomery County, Md., was on full display during this year’s Taste of Wheaton event, which was held on June 2 at Marian Fryer Town Plaza on Reedie Dr., in Wheaton, Md., and featured local restaurants, artists, and county services.

Speaking with Los Cafetales, County Councilmember Natali Fani-González (District 6) noted that the event embraces the area’s cultural diversity via food, as Wheaton is home to restaurants that feature food from all over the world. During the event, those restaurants “are uniting forces to celebrate the love that they have for their culture through food,” she said. “[S]eeing so many people coming to participate and support is such a beautiful thing, and why Wheaton is such a special place in Montgomery County.”

As noted in a publication prepared by the Montgomery Planning Research and Strategic Projects Division, the Hispanic population reached 20.1% of Montgomery County’s population in 2021, with 211,512 people. According to the publication, 35% of Hispanics in the county report their heritage to be Salvadoran, with the other leading origins of people with Hispanic heritage being Guatemalan (8%); Honduran and Mexican (7% each); and Peruvian (6%).

Among the restaurants that participated in the Taste of Wheaton event was Maria’s Cafe, which has been in the area for five years, according to owner Maria Duran.

Speaking with Los Cafetales, Duran said that she has lived in Wheaton for 30 years, and worked in many area restaurants as a server and cook before launching her own business. She noted that she decided to start her business out of necessity, but also because of her passion for cooking. She encouraged individuals looking to start their own business to go for it because while it is not easy, “it is possible, as long as you give it your all and have passion for what you do, and well, also [by having] discipline.”

The event also featured such artists as Ileana Vargas, owner of Mariana by Ileana. Vargas, who is from San Miguel, El Salvador, told Los Cafetales that she offers various accessories for women, men, and children. As noted on her flyer, her business offers handmade and custom accessories made with freshwater pearls and diverse semiprecious stones, with services including pop-up shop events, baby showers, and fundraisers.

Vargas encouraged individuals looking to become entrepreneurs to prepare themselves academically and to take a chance. She noted that she began making products as a hobby, but that after her daughter was born, she turned her work into a business. Entrepreneurship “is about taking chances and not having fear, for real, because anything is possible; here, knowing how to access the right sources, one can do all things,” she said.

Another artist who participated in the event was Cam Shegogue, who noted that she has been selling her art since she was a kid. Speaking with Los Cafetales, Shegogue said that she encourages artists to attend such events as Taste of Wheaton to promote their art. She also said that artists should be persistent, know their markets, tailor their products to each event as much as possible, as well as “to be sure of yourself and only make what you know you love making -- stick with your passions.”

Gary King of G. King Productions, LLC, who played music during the event, told Los Cafetales that he loves the area, adding that he enjoys giving back to the community and providing “happiness and joy through music.”

As noted on its website, G. King Productions is an event production company that specializes in audio, lighting, DJ services, and skilled labor staffing.

Of the Taste of Wheaton event, King noted that there are many good restaurants around Wheaton, which “is a wonderful place for all this, and I’m glad they’re putting the time and energy back into it.”

Similarly, David Roberts, owner of Poppin Loco, noted that “D.C. is a melting pot,” and that events like the Taste of Wheaton event is “a huge deal,” as it brings people from all backgrounds together.

Roberts also told Los Cafetales that he has a couple of food trucks that move around the DMV area, selling such products as homemade cream puffs and iced teas, as well as Mexican food and burgers. He added that at Taste of Wheaton, he was selling products from his “sweets concept” truck, including sweet popcorn, freeze dried candy, freshly squeezed juices, and cotton candy.

Aside from art and food, the event also allowed the community to learn more about services that exist not only in Wheaton, but in the county as well.

For instance, Dan Thompson, executive director and founder of the Wheaton Arts Parade & Festival, told Los Cafetales that Taste of Wheaton is “an opportunity for us to meet the community,” as artists volunteer at the event by, for instance, hosting an art-making space for kids and their families. “Kids love to draw, parents love to see their kids create, and our mission is to bring the community together with art,” he said.

The Latino Health Initiative (LHI) of the county’s Department of Health and Human Services also participated in the event. As noted on its website, LHI’s mission is to improve the quality of life of Latinos living in Montgomery County by contributing to the development and implementation of an integrated, coordinated, culturally and linguistically competent health wellness system that supports, values, and respects Latino families and communities.

Magdalena Franco, community health worker, told Los Cafetales that events such as Taste of Wheaton are helpful for the Latino community. “There is a lot of Hispanic people who come to fairs to look for information” on such matters as health, because their work hours do not allow them to receive information through television, for instance, she said.

Photo credit: Cori