Pontian Roots in New York: Evelyn’s Journey with Sagapo NYC

Evelyn’s parents met portion studying medicine successful Poland. Her mother, of Polish-Greek descent with heavy Pontian lineage from Naoussa colony adjacent the North Macedonia border, raised her amid resilient household traditions. Despite her father’s beingness successful the UK, Evelyn proudly claims each identities. “I consciousness everything that I am,” she states, crediting her mother’s efforts to instill Ghanaian pridefulness done home-cooked African dishes. This multicultural instauration shapes her worldview, overmuch similar the blended diaspora experiences of implicit 69,000 Greeks successful NYC.

From Thessaloniki to Manhattan: A Nomad’s Path

Evelyn’s vocation successful hospitality spanned Europe earlier landing successful New York past February. She worked astatine formation clubs successful Mykonos from the property of 18, mingling with planetary crowds successful a “Vegas-Dubai” vibe. Stints successful London, Berlin, and Miami followed, but NYC’s multicultural pulse feels similar home. “It’s truthful blended; you tin ne'er get bored,” she says. Now married, she eyes suburbs similar Connecticut for her aboriginal household life, prioritizing quality implicit the municipality hustle.

Pontian influences tally strong. Enrolled successful creation classes astatine seven, Evelyn mastered Sera—the male-led Pontian dance—often successful accepted antheral attire. Her gramps beamed with pridefulness during Thessaloniki festivals, wherever her acheronian features sparked amazed interviews. These roots, preserved overseas done taste societies, item diaspora efforts to transmit people dances and archaic dialects. In New York, she connects with chap Hellenes regular successful Astoria’s “Little Greece,” amid a 300,000-strong determination Greek population.

Sagapo NYC: Modern Twists connected Pontian-Inspired Cuisine

Food threads Evelyn’s story. Grandparents taught her elaborate recipes—weekend room marathons yielded time-intensive pies similar Polish pierogis (dumpling-like with fillings of cabbage, mushrooms, oregon beef). Ghanaian staples and Pontian staples merge successful her imaginativeness for Sagapo NYC (@sagaponyc connected Instagram). Not yet open, the spot buzzes pre-launch via societal media, drafting inquiries from Australia.

Evelyn critiques Greek cuisine’s under-marketing. “People deliberation it’s conscionable souvlaki and Greek salad,” she notes. Instead, Sagapo offers 2025 twists: elevated moussaka sans predictable atom sides, celebrating household feasts implicit commercialized fare. Targeting Manhattan’s trendy crowds, it aims for viral entreaty successful an country lacking modern Hellenic spots. Her goal? Promote Greek nutrient arsenic an “experience” rivaling Italian oregon Asian rivals, rooted successful grandma’s Sunday tables.

This aligns with broader preservation trends. Pontic Greeks abroad, pursuing the 1923 exchanges, fiercely defender their individuality done cuisine and events similar NYC’s 2025 Greek Independence Parade. Evelyn plans to walk Greek fluency and spanakopita breakfasts to her children, ensuring practice endures.

Thriving Greek Diaspora successful the Big Apple

New York’s Greek country supports newcomers similar Evelyn. Queens’ Astoria evokes Thessaloniki with its java shops and festivals; she joined Pontian circles swiftly aft her arrival. Recent initiatives, specified arsenic the December ReBrain Greece networking event, foster nonrecreational connections for diaspora talent. Her fluent Greek, laced with Thessaloniki slang, delights locals—often mistaken for that of a autochthonal speaker.

Evelyn’s Pontian roots successful New York’s communicative are surprising: Dark-skinned, she defies Spanish assumptions successful NYC but replies successful cleanable Greek, echoing the joys of the planetary diaspora. As Season 2 of The Greek Podyssey launches, her dependable amplifies divers Hellenism.

Nick Bourdaniotis

Director of Photography & Video / Writer

In 2016, Nick Bourdaniotis joined Greek City Times, arsenic a photographer. His endowment down the lens was rapidly recognised, and wrong a year, helium became the Director of Photography and Videography. Nick besides contributes articles to the events helium covers for Greek City Times. Nick is planetary recognized for exhibiting his postulation of photographs featuring The Greek Presidential Guard (Evzones), successful a photographic accumulation titled “The Evzones Collection by Nick Bourdaniotis” which are prominently displayed successful the Presidential Palace and Head Quarters of the Presidential Guard (Evzones) successful Athens Greece.