Stories of food and family at November Storytellers event

As we prepare for Thanksgiving, we think about time spent around the table with our families.

This month, the Arizona Storytellers: Food & Family show will explore stories about the dishes that inspire us, the families that developed our palates and the people we are thankful for.

The night is hosted by Storytellers Project Founder Megan Finnerty and

Arizona Republic dining critic Dominic Armato.

Deborah Ostreicher’s story will be about how the nonprofit New Pathways for Youth brings people together around food. She’s volunteered there for 20 years — and each year her life is changed. The organization provides life skill development to young adults living in extreme poverty through mentoring.

“Their ability to rise above their situations and make the most of their lives has been truly inspirational,” Ostreicher said.

“I want to share how people of different backgrounds, religions, ages and skin color have come together to share our cultures, our foods and our families.”

Other tellers include:

❚ Lupita Hightower, whose family held movie nights often, but one night turned her into a vegetarian.

❚ Liz Warren, whose grandmother’s mince-meat pies became the focus of a strange family ritual.

❚ Rose Turman, who’ll remember how the smells of holiday cooking in her south Phoenix neighborhood was something kids in the whole area looked forward to.

❚ Chef and restaurant owner Doug Robson, who’ll share a story of how growing up in the kitchen kept him out of trouble and helped him focus.