OUR MISSION IS TO
BUILD COMMUNITY THROUGH FOOD
AND THE STORIES IT TELLS
WE BELIEVE
Stories on a Plate is a community initiative started by a high school student to bring people together through cooking and the stories behind our food. We believe food is more than what’s on the plate. It’s the laughter around the table, the smells that bring back memories, the comfort of tradition, and the way a shared meal can connect people across cultures who might never have met otherwise. Food is a language we all understand even when our worlds are vastly different.
WHAT WE DO
We host events where people come together to cook a dish tied to their culture, tradition, or a memory and make new friends over stories told around the table. Each gathering also gives back, with ticket proceeds supporting local food banks. Come for the food. Stay for the story.
4 SIMPLE STEPS THAT CONVERT FOOD INTO CONNECTIONS
Our Impact So Far
Since launching our pilot in August 2025, Stories on a Plate has hosted five community gatherings – from a family fusion dinner and a traditional Rosh Hashanah feast to a Diwali-inspired Indian meal and an Italian Nonna teaching homemade pasta.
We’ve brought together more than 60 people in a hands-on, multi-generational experience – cooking, eating, and connecting around the table. Together, we’ve raised over $2,500 for Feeding the Flock Ministry, Allegheny County’s largest food bank.
Along the way, new friendships have formed, new memories have been made, and new stories have become part of the dishes shared.
Real stories. Shared around the table.
Hear from our community.
Stories from the Table
A look at the meals, cultures, and connections shared at past gatherings
Fusion Dinner Kickoff
We launched Stories on a Plate with a family-hosted fusion dinner led by Mahika and her parents, Shravan and Gauri. The menu featured Tandoori Salmon with Lemon Rice—a quick, healthy meal that blends traditional Indian spices with Western-style plating. It was the perfect way to begin our journey: sharing a dish rooted in family, culture, and the idea that food can bridge generations and traditions.
Rosh Hashanah: A Celebration of Renewal
This gathering honored the Jewish New Year through beloved family recipes and stories passed down through generations. Together, we prepared matzo ball soup, chicken with tzimmes salad, sweet noodle kugel, and challah, while hosts Margo Litwin and Maggie Feinstein shared the traditions and meaning behind each dish. It was a beautiful reminder of how food carries both memory and hope.
Diwali: Food, Light, and New Beginnings
To celebrate Diwali, the Festival of Lights, hosts Sarika and Amit Goulatia welcomed the group into a meal centered on warmth, tradition, and togetherness. We cooked Butter Chicken, Aloo Gobhi, and Dal Makhani—classic dishes often shared during New Year celebrations. As we cooked, we learned how food plays a central role in marking fresh beginnings and bringing families together.
Favorite Holiday Desserts Across Generations
This session brought together two teens and a senior citizen to share desserts tied to cherished holiday memories. Kris shared Mama Rose’s Christmas Dates, a recipe passed down from her great-grandmother. Lindsey made Green Things—mint chocolate squares she bakes every Christmas with her grandmother. Mahika shared her family’s vegan tiramisu, a Thanksgiving staple created for her and her brother due to egg allergies. The result was a sweet celebration of tradition, adaptation, and nostalgia.
Italian Edition: Pasta with Nonna
In this intimate, intergenerational session, a Nonna from Southern Italy taught us how to make handmade pasta from scratch while sharing memories of her childhood kitchen—flour-covered tables, family gathered close, and recipes passed down through generations. The menu included fresh pasta, simple marinara, orange and fennel salad, and a surprise batch of pizzelle. Hosted by Luccia Facco, this gathering was a rare and beautiful glimpse into food as living heritage.
