Community Voice
”BEST RECIPE” WINNER
MAIN
Long Life Noodles
By Mary Lee C.
APPETIZERS
Mile High Moist Cornbread
By Joanna J.
MAIN
Quick N’ Hearty Barley Soup
By Pauline J.
MAIN
Pollo Encacahuatado
By Ashley M.
DESSERT
Diamonds on the Souls Cookies
By Charlie K.
Our Neighborhood
Northwest Aurora and East Denver
Aurora, Colorado, is one of the most diverse cities in the state, with around 21% of residents born outside the U.S. and over 160 languages spoken. The demographic mosaic is striking: about 41% White non-Hispanic, roughly 30% Hispanic/Latino, 15% Black or African American, and around 6% Asian, with sizeable communities from Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Aurora also serves as a welcoming hub for refugees: many neighborhoods feature businesses founded by Ethiopian, Somali, Burmese, Syrian, and Nepali newcomers, particularly along bustling corridors like Havana and Colfax Avenues.
This rich cultural fabric is clearly reflected in Aurora’s food scene. Havana Street alone hosts well over 150 global eateries, featuring specialties like Korean barbecue and individual hot pots, Ethiopian house-roasted coffee and breakfast, and Burmese chicken curry noodles and fermented tea-leaf salad. On Colfax, you’ll also find family-run gems – from Mexican pupuserías and pierogi shops to Somali and Ghanaian grills, where you can savor waakye with rice and beans or pounded fufu. Community hubs offer refugee‑run kitchens serving Syrian, Nepalese, and Somali dishes. Add to this Stanley Marketplace’s mix of local favorites—from oysters to charred pâté —and you’ve got a city where every meal tells the story of a global neighborhood thriving in Aurora