This Welcoming Week, the Free Library hosted a special event called A Taste of Edible Alphabet on Monday, September 16, 2024. The evening program, arranged by Lindsay Southworth, Senior Program Manager of Adult Education, was open to anyone interested in learning more about the Edible Alphabet program. 

Edible Alphabet is the library’s free English language learning program where adults learn English language and literacy skills through hands-on cooking projects. Launched in 2015, classes are jointly led by an English teacher for speakers of other languages and a trained chef instructor. In this collaborative space, learners work together to create delicious meals and advance their English skills. This long-running program occurs in the Culinary Literacy Center at Parkway Central Library and neighborhood branches around the city. 

A Taste of Edible Alphabet was led by Nicole and Tugce, two former Edible Alphabet students, alongside chef instructor Genevieve Guastella. Nicole explained how to easily peel a tomato via blanch and shock as well as how to cut corn directly from the cob for use in preparing tomaticán stew, a traditional Chilean dish. Tugce demonstrated how to properly clean a leek to use in zeytinyağlı pırasa, a Turkish dish that can be served hot, cold, or at room temperature. After these demonstrations, attendees enjoyed a serving of each dish, while sharing their own food memories with each other. One of the highlights of Edible Alphabet is the communal enjoyment of a meal and this special event offered attendees that same experience.

For those looking to learn English through this unique program, there will be three sets of Edible Alphabet classes this fall: 

• Fridays from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., October 4th to November 8, at Lillian Marrero Library (601 W. Lehigh Avenue, 19133)
• Tuesdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., October 8th to November 26, virtually over Zoom
• Fridays from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., November 15th to December 20, at Northeast Regional Library (2228 Cottman Avenue, 19149)

Register for these upcoming classes. Groceries are provided for all registered learners. You can learn more about Edible Alphabet right here on our website as well. 

Check out the Culinary Literacy Center's Class Schedule for upcoming events. To keep up to date with library resources for adult English language learners, sign up for Languages and Learning’s monthly newsletter. 

Edible Alphabet is made possible by the generous support of Dietz and Watson.