Real home cooking, explained simply
Good food from your neighbors, step by step.
New to cooking? Start anywhere. Find a recipe, see what you can make with the food you already have, find something to use when you're out of an ingredient, or grow a few herbs at home.
New in the Library
The newest recipes shared by people in the neighborhood.
Out of something?
Here's what you can use instead, and how much of it.
Butter
Use olive oil, greek yoghurt, coconut oil instead.
Buttermilk
Use milk + lemon juice, thinned yoghurt instead.
Heavy cream
Use full-fat coconut milk, whole milk + melted butter instead.
Eggs (in baking)
Use ground flaxseed + water, unsweetened apple sauce, aquafaba instead.
All-purpose flour
Use bread flour, oat flour instead.
Baking powder
Use baking soda + cream of tartar, baking soda + buttermilk instead.
Grow it at home
Herbs, vegetables and fruit that grow well in New York City, even in a pot by the window. Never gardened before? Click a plant and we'll walk you through it.
Basil
The summer herb NYC heat was made for. One pot on a south window keeps pesto going from June to the first cold night.
Mint
Nearly impossible to kill and genuinely invasive, so grow it in its own pot and it will outlive your lease.
Thyme
A small woody plant that comes back year after year and handles NYC winters on a windowsill or a fire escape.
Flat-leaf parsley
A biennial that handles cold better than almost anything else on the list. It often survives right through a New York winter.
Chives
The easiest plant on this page. Plant once, cut with scissors for years, and the purple flowers are edible too.
Cherry tomato
The best return on a sunny fire escape. Cherry types ripen fast enough to beat the September cool-down.
From the founder
Food is about more than just eating. It’s tied to our health, our environment, and most importantly, connects us with each other. As a daughter of two Trinidadian parents, learning how to cook from them isn’t always easy. No measurements, just feelings. I created Block to Table not only to provide an opportunity for people of all ages to be mindful of the environment, but also so younger people would have the chance to connect more with their cultures. Block to Table is a space where members of the community can share recipes, learn how to grow their own ingredients, and learn more about composting.
- Krissa Williams, EcoPower ’26 Intern