The 2-mile stretch of Broadway between I-5 and Hwy. 99 bordering downtown Sacramento boasts dozens of restaurants serving food from around the world. It's a culinary and cultural microcosm of America's most diverse and integrated city, as affirmed by a Harvard study. There are rich and personal stories behind these Broadway businesses, and food reporter Elaine Corn enjoyed telling many of them.
Assisted by Sacramento State geography chair Dr. Robin Datel as special advisor (for a broader historical perspective) Elaine's special 12-part series "Broadway: Around the World in 30 Blocks" aired the second Friday of each month from December, 2008 through November, 2009. Each segment featured one Broadway restaurant or market, its owner(s), cooks and customers.
“I feel like I’ve traveled to far flung places without leaving Sacramento,” says Ms. Corn. “I’ve gotten to know the people behind the food and what it means to them. I hope listeners feel that way too.”
“I think this series demonstrated public radio’s unique style of in-depth journalism and our ability to connect with the community in new and exciting ways,” says Capital Public Radio News Director Joe Barr.
Scrolling through this webpage, you can see lush photographs from each story, download recipes, find historical information about the area and listen again to your favorite stories.