For the last several years, the research of two professors at Lebanon Valley College has been instrumental in drawing attention to the remarkable social and cultural influence of the Latin American diaspora in Central Pennsylvania, which can be traced as far back as the American Revolution.
Liam Schmidt
The story of the Pushnik brothers and how they established some of Lebanon’s favorite diners
Pushnik’s Diner. The Gin Mill. The Waterfall Room. For decades, the Pushnik brothers were some of the most successful and magnanimous restaurateurs in Lebanon County.
How Chinese cuisine made its way into Lebanon County
By the time the area’s first Chinese restaurant opened in 1974, Chinese cuisine had already made a remarkable journey from both its home country and its early restaurants on the West Coast.
How Italian restaurants got their start in Lebanon County
It was not until the middle of the 20th century that Italian cuisine was introduced to Lebanon County, but when it was, it caught on fast. Several Italian restaurants opened around the early 1950s, and food in Lebanon County has never been the same since.
San Giorgio, the national pasta company born in Lebanon
It all began with an Italian immigrant named Girolamo Guerrisi, who moved to Lebanon in 1912. His pasta company became one of the largest employers in Lebanon and a brand recognized across the country.