SONIC DISH: CHEF RIANY MENA x ROME THRASHER
“If this dish were a track, what would it sound like?”
Dominican chef Riany Mena, Executive Chef at Toro Cantina on Wolf Road, is well known for his Pataconia pop ups, but we asked him to dig into his Menu by Mena private chef recipe vault for Dominican inspiration.
We paired him with music producer + DJ, Rome Thrasher, a dynamic, versatile presence in the Upstate N.Y. electronic scene known for blending electronic, hip hop, rock + nostalgic sounds, and asked what wasakaka N.Y. strip steak might sound like.
Editing: Susie Davidson Powell
Photos: Riany Mena - provided.
Rome Thrasher — @nickiroberts
SDP: Chef Riany grew up in the Dominican Republic where he developed his “passion for vibrant, authentic flavors” before moving to the United States and working his way up in the culinary world in Boston and New York City.
First, chef, could you describe the dish?
Yes, I chose a N.Y. strip steak served with yucca fries and topped with a wasakaka aioli and orange garlic finishing salt.
What’s the backstory?
Chef Riany Mena: So wasaka is what we call Dominican "chimichurri" even though we already have a sauce named as such. Wasakaka resembles the characteristics of chimichurri or Italian salsa verde; it’s composed of chopped parsley, garlic, olive oil, oregano, with the differentiator being the sour orange as opposed to lemon juice. Wasakaka is typically served with rotisserie chicken in the Dominican Republic where I’m from, but I always like to break the mold and try new things. I also made this dish at a private THC-infused dinner I did a few years back!
Okay, Rome — You’ve seen the dish + heard the backstory behind Chef Riany’s Dominican-inspired wasakaka. What does it sound like to you?
Rome Thrasher: Trying to find the right Dominican/NY pairing was tough - definitely more challenging than I thought - so I stuck to what I know while still finding something to relate. For this dish, I went with “Jazz Thing” by Gang Starr, featuring Branford Marsalis.
Listen here.
The Sound: This track dropped in 1990 as part of Spike Lee’s sound track for “mo better blues.” The track is Guru walking us through the history of jazz—from its roots in blues and spirituals to the legends who shaped the sound. What makes it special is that he’s telling that story through hip-hop, with Premier flipping jazz samples into a new rhythm. It’s history being carried forward, not left behind.
The inspo: That same idea lives in this plate. Dominican flavors like wasakaka and yucca fries sit next to a classic New York strip, each keeping its identity while creating something new together. It shows how tradition and creativity can share the same space, whether on a record or on a plate.
CHEF RIANY MENU is the Executive Chef of Toro Cantina on Wolf Road, Colonie. He was the founding chef of Pataconia inside the River Street Market (Troy) + offers private chef services, Menu By Mena. | Website: menubymena.com
IG: @menubymena
ROME THRASHER is a music producer + DJ in upstate New York. He has expanded his producer/DJ experience as 1 half of the producer-duo NGHTWRK within the trap/twerk bass music genre, but he is known for the distinctive fusion of UKG & House music with heavy hip hop influences. Having shared stages with renowned artists such as Subtronics, Bijou, Destructo, Bart B More, G-space, Luzcid, 12thplanet, CRNKN, Bro Safari, Just Blaze, Araab Muzik, Liquid Stranger, luminox, Willy Joy, Barely Alive, Virtual Riot, Nitti Gritti, and GTA, Rome Thrasher has solidified his presence in the Upstate N.Y. electronic music scene and earned a reputation for delivering unforgettable performances.
IG: @itsromethrasher | LABS EP: Spotify
