East Village cookbook: A culinary journey of neighborhood flavors

EAST VILLAGE, Manhattan (PIX11) -- New York City neighborhoods are filled with local flavor, and every dish has a story.

Some people in the East Village have put together a cookbook and are selling it for a social purpose. 

Will Horowitz is a chef, restaurant owner, and neighbor. He says more than 180 people contributed to the book from famous chefs at local hot spots to traditional fare from families on the block. 

"What we thought would be a couple of pages that we stapled together turned into another world," he said. 

Artist, writers, and locals added their pictures and secret sauces. 

The response had been proof that food and friendship are nourishing. 

Artist and local resident Lola Saenz added her spicy and sweet peanut butter bagel recipe and some art. "It's like the neighborhood, it's colorful," she said. 

The cookbook helps fund the kitchen at Trinity’s Services and Food for the Homeless on East 9th by Tompkins Square Park. 

Pastor William Kroeze says the kitchen and food pantry serve more than 200,000 meals a year. 

"This is a dynamic, diverse, exciting neighborhood with a great food scene and a neighborhood that has been influenced by successive waves of immigrants. This is an incredible reflection of what the East Village neighborhood is, and stories told through our food," the pastor said. 

The cookbook is available online and they’re already planning a second edition.