Culture Authentic Eatery in Ocean City unveils new menu

Cristina Russo pulled up to Culture Authentic Eatery late Thursday night.

It was 9 p.m. — right when the restaurant is supposed to close.

But not today.

Today was special.

Today was different.

Russo sat down inside at a table set elegantly for six, with recycled, eco-friendly paper plates, plastic silver wear and wine glasses.

As the rest of the guests trickled in, Russo could hardly contain her excitement.

"I feel like we've won the golden tickets to Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory," she said.

Russo and two others had been selected in a random drawing to sample Culture's new menu before the rest of Ocean City. They were each allowed to bring one guest to accompany them to the once-in-a-lifetime event.

"So, what do you think it's going to be?" Karen Jones asked her husband, eagerly. "Maybe something tropical?"

As if on cue, owners Travis and Jodi Wright emerged and greeted the guests. After explaining how the evening would unfold, they reached the moment everyone was waiting for — what would the new menu feature?

The guests anxiously stared at them.

"Mayan," Travis Wright said. "The new menu will represent the Mayan culture."

Crafting a compromise

To many restaurants, unveiling a new menu would not normally be cause for such an exciting and secretive operation.

But Culture Authentic Eatery in West Ocean City is unlike any other restaurant on Delmarva.

It dares to break the mold of typical industry standards by introducing a new menu each spring. The task is as daunting as it is challenging, but owners Travis and Jodi Wright are no strangers when it comes to breaking restaurant menu norms.

Their first restaurant, Shark on the Harbor, presents a new menu each day, made from local and fresh ingredients only.

Much like Shark on the Harbor, the menu at Culture is all-natural and made from scratch, but it features culturally inspired cuisine, centered around Peruvian rotisserie chicken. The supporting menu will change annually to represent a different culture, but the chicken will remain the star of the show.

The inspiration behind Culture's unique concept came from years of longing to open a quaint Peruvian restaurant.

Travis Wright grew up in Arlington, Virginia, where there was a pollo eatery practically on every street. After he met Jodi, the two traveled the world, chasing down authentic Peruvian eats which only intensified his desire to open such a restaurant.

"I was worried though, from a business standpoint," Jodi Wright said. "I believed something so specialized would be hard to sustain in this area's marketplace."

Their traveling continued, as did the dream of opening a Peruvian joint. After years of negotiating, the couple crafted a compromise.

"By launching a new menu each year, centered around the chicken, we can offer our customers something new and exciting while still staying true to who we are," she said. "It was genius."

Mayan inspired

For the last year, Culture's menu has featured Peruvian chicken, as well as a supporting menu of Peruvian inspired items like sweet potato soup, smoked pork sandwiches, all natural beef skewers, hearts of palm, shrimp ceviche and fried yuca.

The new menu represents the Mayan culture, inspired by cuisines native to counties like southern Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and Belize.

New items include homemade chips and salsa, grilled mahi mahi, coconut shrimp tacos, grilled pineapple, carne asada bowls and chicken tostadas. Traditional Mexican style rice and beans, are offered, as well as a Belizean version, which is steamed in coconut milk.

"The Mayan culture encompasses several regions that cook with very different ingredients," Travis Wright said. "When you think Mexico, you think rich, earthy flavors of cumin, coriander and chile powder. But when you think Belize, you think mango, pineapple, papaya and vanilla. The climates and ingredients made available in the different regions are vast."

The West Ocean City eatery's menu represents the culture as a whole, he said, featuring all types of complementing dishes under Mayan influence.

In contrast to the Peruvian diet, which heavily features potatoes — Peru grows more than 4,000 varieties — the majority of the new, Mayan menu is gluten free. Vegetarian and vegan options are also available.

Different, but the same

It was after hours, but Culture was buzzing with activity Thursday night.

As the guests dined on new menu features, the restaurant's staff worked around them, transforming the space from Peru to Mayan. Tan, beige and orange accent pieces were replaced with shades of teal and light blues.

"This tostada is the best thing I have ever tasted," Karen Jones said as the thud of the staple gun worked on the wall.

Despite a new menu and decor, there are certain things at Culture that will remain the same each year, in addition to the Peruvian rotisserie chicken, of course.

The restaurant will still boast the same fast casual atmosphere. All-natural craft sodas, teas and coffees will still be offered to go, as well as local beer, wine and craft cocktails. Additionally, the menu will be made using only fresh and locally source ingredients.

"Like always, our food is food you can feel good about eating, no regrets," Travis Wright said.

But most importantly, what customers have come to expect from the couple will remain.

"The way we run our business: our high standards, our values, our attention to customer service, none of that is changing," Jodi Wright said. "This restaurant, regardless of what culture it represents, is a reflection of what Travis and I are known for, and that is taking care of our family, our friends and our guests."

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302-537-1881, ext. 209

Culture Authentic Eatery

Where: 12507 Sunset Ave, Ocean City

When: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. 

Call: 410-213-1006

Visit: culturerestaurant.com