UPCOMING COOKBOOK! Behind the Plate: Food Stories From Saint Paul’s East Side
At Urban Roots, community has always been built in many ways. However, food has been one of the most powerful ways that bridge us together, a keystone to creating a space for learning and connection. We are therefore incredibly excited to introduce our new cookbook, Behind the Plate: Food Stories from Saint Paul’s East Side.
How did Food Stories begin?
Beginning as an informal collection in 2021 by Nethmi Bathige, it was made to honor the food stories of immigrant and Indigenous communities on Saint Paul’s East Side. Nethmi wanted to explore the connection between food and storytelling and asked: “What stories have been left unsaid?” By 2022, the project expanded further with Astrid Berger, who continued collecting food stories and sparked a call for a collective cookbook with the community and youth interns. Over time, a collection of stories, recipes, and photos grew. By 2023, Anthony Meng joined the project. He collaborated with youth interns and community members to collect food stories under the theme of celebrating food’s connection with loved ones and culture. By then, Anthony took on the task of bringing the cookbook to life through creative design and collaboration.
The kitchen was the space.
The recipes were the tools.
And most importantly, the stories were the lessons.
Quite literally, this cookbook is a labor of love. Each season of Food Stories reflects the depth and beautifully intricate contributions of community members, youth interns, and Urban Roots staff who shared their recipes, memories, and experiences in our kitchen. From sharing stories about food-as-medicine to laughing over spilled spicy ranch sauce, each Food Stories session became something bigger than a shift; it became a space of storytelling, care, and shared connection.
One of our Crew Leads, Kajia Lee, described her experience with Food Stories below. Kajia has been part of Food Stories for over three years!
“It’s been a privilege to be able to experience and be in Food Stories. I love that I get to share the food that I grew up with, and that is familiar to others. It is not often that I can find people who could relate to the relationship I have with food. Then, getting the honor to learn how important food is to other people as well! I’m so happy to be a part of this, and I would hope many others get to experience how I feel about Food Stories!”
Food Stories is the space for this kind of connection. Being able to have youth engage in this space is such a special facet of this project! Through sharing meals and stories, our youth interns are invited to bring their identities, traditions, and lived experiences and weave them into something bigger than themselves. What youth interns bring into the space invites all of us to learn from the wisdom held in the food they grew up with. Also, the JOY youth interns bring is undeniable! Laughter fills the room, connections form naturally, and sometimes just being together is the best part of Food Stories.
As we prepare to launch this cookbook, it’s important to remember that it is, at its heart, a celebration of people, place, and connection. From family staples to dishes made for community meals, these food stories are an intricate reflection of the diverse voices and lived experiences that shape what Saint Paul’s East Side is today. Each plate offers a story: of neighbors passing down knowledge and embodied experience for the future; of young people learning to lead and share their voices; and of mentors who humbly bring their recipes, histories, and hands to the table. We’re truly overjoyed to be able to share this with you soon – stay tuned for details on where you can find a copy of the book!
