My family heritage is mostly UK, so the food I grew up with was nourishing but bland. Putting black pepper on anything was a bold move. That's why I will never forget my first visit to the West Side market, in my early 20s. The sights and smells made me dizzy with joy!
Sheryl, Age 58
Heights Libraries
- Lee Road
Food that tastes like home for me is beet soup borscht. As someone with Polish roots, that deep, earthy flavor carries more than just taste; it carries memory. I don’t even need a full meal sometimes, I’ll buy a bottle of beet juice and drink it straight, and that alone brings me right back.
Andrzej, Age 36
Cleveland Public Library
- Main Library (Downtown)
My mom is Liberian and made one of the native dishes I absolutely love, Cassava Leaves, which is a savory stew. It was occasionally made but would bring such comfort and enjoyment. I thought all Cassava Leaves were the same. I learned her secret was chopped spinach which made hers the best!
Voncille, Age 49
Cuyahoga County Public Library
- Maple Heights