Food for all 

Rochester's food culture has never existed in a vacuum. Our dining scene is a rich and varied arena, subject to the influences of history, tradition, and shifting trends that shape the culinary landscape of a city. With that in mind, CITY tried something a little different with this year's edition of DISH, focusing less on the food itself and more on the effect those myriad factors have had on creating the cuisine.

Writer Pete Wayner takes a look at how geography has impacted Rochester's restaurant landscape by delving into the age-old divide between the city's east and west sides. Our Chow Hound, Katie Libby, spotlights some regional food tours, which give diners a chance to explore the diversity of local cuisine while getting a sampling of the area's history.

And because even what we eat isn't free from the influence of our country's ever-shifting political climate, we also look at the city's food culture through the lens of social justice and humanitarianism. Jake Clapp interviews the founder and acting director of Flower City Pickers about the group's mission to help those in need by collecting leftover produce from the Rochester Public Market and redistributing it to shelters, soup kitchens, and food pantries all around the city.

With everything that's going on in the world today, activism is on the rise — and that's a good thing. But all that protest and resisting can wear a person down, so CITY's staff has put together some helpful nutrition tips to nourish the mind and body, while keeping your energy up and directed toward affecting change. Because you've got to heal yourself before you go out and heal the world.

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