By: Anthony Meng, in Partnership with Urban Roots MN

About the Cookbook:

Behind The Plate is more than a cookbook; it is a celebration of people, place, and connection. Created to preserve and honor the food stories of immigrant and Indigenous communities on Saint Paul’s East Side, this collection brings together narratives rooted in memory, culture, and becoming.

As a people-centered cookbook, each dish carries a story of neighbors passing down knowledge and lived experience, of young people learning to lead and share their voices, and of mentors who offer their recipes, histories, and care.

From family staples to meals prepared for community gatherings, these stories reflect the diverse voices and lived experiences that shape the East Side today. Warm, accessible, and deeply human, this cookbook invites readers into kitchens where food becomes a bridge for teaching, remembrance, and love, offering a meaningful way to experience a place where food creates community.