Real Food Real Kitchens

John grew up in Queens and was raised in an Italian household. He cooks a recipe for Italian meatballs and sausage with tomato sauce that he learned from his Grandfather by watching him make it over the years. John and his Mother tell us the story of the family history and culture behind the dish.

Liz's Puerto Rican roots go deep in New York City; from Spanish Harlem, to the Lower East Side to Queens. Her Father taught her how to cook at a young age after her Mother passed away and through his recipes she connects with her Latin roots. For this episode of Real Food Real Kitchens, she prepares a dish her Father created, a Puerto Rican version of a Shepherd's Pie.

Yuki shares her favorite traditional family comfort foods from Japan. She cooks these recipes when she's missing that 'ahhh' feeling of being home in Japan. Now living in Brooklyn, NY with her husband Dennis and daughter, these simple and shareable dishes have also become favorites of her family and friends.

After a rough childhood, John has taken on a positive approach to life that includes eating a plant based (vegan) diet. One dish he holds dear to his heart is meatloaf and mashed potatoes, a dish his Mother used to cook for him and his brothers. In this episode, John shares his vegan version of his Mother's meatloaf, and the story of his life that you won't soon forget.

Dionne and her family immigrated to the Bronx from Jamaica in the 1970's. Moving in to the then mostly Italian neighborhood of Williamsbridge, Dionne's Mother learned how to cook Italian food from neighbors. As a child, Dionne learned her Mother's Italian cooking skills in the very same kitchen she cooks in today.

Jai Sen shares a traditional family recipe for Bengali Shrimp Curry, an Indian dish his Mother taught him. Jai Sen's Mom is from Upstate New York and his Father from India and after they met and fell in love, they moved to India. The rest of Jai Sen's story is a delicious history.

Alysa follows her family food roots from her current home in Harlem, all the way back to Albany, Georgia where she would visit her Grandmother on her farm as a child. She shares recipes for smothered pork chops, sweet potato casserole, and mac n' cheese with her family of friends in New York.

Born and raised in the Bronx, Renee learned how to cook from her Mexican tía abuela (great aunt). She was a strong, independent woman who had her own farm in Mexico, and taught Renee a thing or two about life, love, and best of all, food.

Jenny is 90 years old! Her ultimate joy in life is her family, especially cooking for them. She shows off her super fast, awe inspiring, and quick-witted cooking skills, creating traditional Chinese dishes her family has enjoyed their entire lives. Having these recipes is something her family will cherish for years to come. This episode is a truly special moment in all of their lives.

Peter shares a beautiful New York story matched with delicious Italian recipes. His family has deep Italian roots all over the city. He shows us how to make his Aunt's chicken cutlets (his childhood favorite) and his family's 'special occasion' stuffed artichokes.

Jame's favorite dish his Mother makes for him is traditional Haitian Soup Joumou, but she has never taught him how to make it...until now! She stops by his apartment to teach him how to make this heart warming dish and share a few of her own surprising food stories from growing up in Haiti.

New mother Marie and her Mom Corinne cook up a Trinidadian feast and talk about the importance of food, family, culture, diversity, and history. Her husband Tom jumps in for a lesson on making his favorite Trinidadian dish Coo Coo.