DOWNTOWN AKRON — The Akron-Summit County Public Library will host Akron Eats: World Cuisine, a free and flavorful celebration of local diversity and culture through cuisine, Nov. 12 from noon to 3 p.m. at the Main branch, located at 60 S. High St.
Library visitors are invited to “travel the globe” through small tastes of flavors from around the world created by restaurants in Summit County. Participating vendors and taste origins include: Akronym Brewing, Bereka Coffee & Kitchen (Ethiopia), Cilantro Thai & Sushi Restaurant (Thai-Japanese hybrid), Cookie’s BBQ (Chicago), Evelyn’s Coffee & Bahn Mi (Vietnam), The Flavor Grille (Jamaica), House of Tacos (Peru), Nepali Kitchen (Nepal), Paul’s Hibachi (Japan), Reeves Cake Shop, Sima’s Tastes (Persia and the Mediterranean), Sushi Katsu (Japan), The Tea Lady (from around the world) and Vasili’s Greek Cuisine (Greece).
In addition, Personal Chef Jennifer Tidwell, of Jenuine Cuisines, will present live food demonstrations at 12:30 and 1:30 p.m. and Akronym Brewing will offer a free 5-ounce drink to the first 100 adults ages 21 and older (identification required).
“Akron Eats is an initiative to reconnect the community, celebrate diversity and rekindle a sense of exploration through food,” said librarian Keith Freund, who organized the event with several other librarians. “The pandemic shrunk our world, often down to just our homes, and we felt Akron’s burgeoning culinary arts scene was a great antidote. This is the inaugural event for a series that we hope will help connect the public with new talents and flavors popping up in our neighborhoods.”
Entertainment also will be provided.
Also on that day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., library staff will help area residents prepare for travel by offering passport applications without prior registration through the library passport facility. In addition, free passport photos for all applications processed during this event will be available. Visit akronlibrary.org and Travel.State.gov for more information on appropriate documents and payment.