Plates is not just another cookbook nor is it a glossy food magazine. Instead, this independent print publication seeks out the hidden figures and underreported human stories in everyday ingredients. Plates uses food as a conversation starter. In a climate where animosity towards “the other” continues to grow, Plates believes in the power of food to transcend socially constructed barriers. Plates is for the person who believes she has a bigger role to play in her community, but is unsure where or how to begin. Plates is more than a food culture magazine. It is an invitation to wonder about existing mainstream narratives, to seek out alternatives and to wander beyond the pages.