If there’s one thing I truly miss, it’s the food. This is a message that I frequently receive from my followers who message me when they are missing home. More specifically, it’s when they’re missing our delicious food here in the Mahoning Valley.

If there’s one thing I truly miss, it’s the food.

This is a message that I frequently receive from my followers who message me when they are missing home. More specifically, it’s when they’re missing our delicious food here in the Mahoning Valley. 

No one here has a clue what peppers in oil are, one follower had written to me from a few states away. She told me she had moved into a community with very few Italian descendants. 

And truth be told, it wasn’t until I did my own traveling that I understood this sentiment. 

As a content creator through my brand Modern Italian American, I’ve had the opportunity to travel across the country during this past year, visiting places like Florida, D.C., New York, and places in between for work.

I remember while visiting the east coast that I had a very distinct craving: Italian greens. More specifically, a grilled chicken and greens sandwich. And let me tell you, I could not find that on a menu anywhere. 

The one thing I love about Trumbull County is that, if you want Italian greens, you’re covered. You can go to any Italian restaurant or Italian specialty store nearby, and you’ll find them. This convenience is something that we often overlook.

It’s a beautiful combination: sauteed escarole, plenty of garlic, good olive oil, and hot peppers.

I love Italian fried greens. Everyone I know does too. The dish is simple, and ultimately, it’s a symbol of our rich Italian American history here in the Mahoning Valley, which clearly begs an important question: why is this dish an integral part of our food culture?

Cucina Povera, or Peasant Cooking

At the turn of the last century, nearly one-third of residents in Trumbull County were of Italian descent. Many of those came to the Mahoning Valley in search of new opportunity, as southern Italy was plagued by widespread poverty and limited economic opportunities.

Upon leaving their homeland, what they carried with them to their new American kitchens was a culinary tradition known as cucina povera, or peasant cooking. It was a way of life for them. It was a style of cooking that took humble, inexpensive ingredients typically found in one’s family garden and transformed them into flavorful meals for their families.

It was a way of survival for them. 

As a result, many of us grew up eating this whether we realize it or not. Examples include dishes like pasta e fagioli (pasta and beans), pasta e piselli (pasta and peas), and scarola e fagioli (escarole and beans). 

Growing up, I knew these dishes were delicious, but I never understood the stories of economic hardship and survival behind them.

That being said, Italian fried greens are absolutely a dish born from cucina povera. Not only is the dish easy to make, it’s affordable too, and it’s something we all know and cherish here in the Valley.

A Local Twist on Italian Tradition

In Southern Italy today, Italian fried greens are still eaten as well, though they look a bit different. The traditional preparation goes beyond garlic and olive oil. It’s often accompanied by olives, capers, anchovies, pine nuts, and even raisins. 

Here in Trumbull County, we keep it simple with generous amounts of garlic, olive oil, pecorino romano, and — my favorite part — hot peppers.

That’s the beautiful thing about food: it evolves and varies from region to region.

While it is absolutely possible to find Italian greens in other Italian American communities, our signature combination is a beloved staple here, and I will continue to cherish it.

Where to Find Italian Greens in Northeast Ohio

Whether you live in Trumbull County or you’re visiting, you don’t have to look far to find a good plate of Italian greens.

At Salvatore’s Italian Grill in Howland, fried Italian greens are a signature appetizer. Tender escarole is sautéed with garlic and olive oil, finished with Romano cheese, and topped with a fried Hungarian hot pepper. It’s a great example of the simple, garlicky, slightly spicy version of the dish that has become such a staple in our corner of Northeast Ohio.

Vernon’s Café in Niles offers a couple of ways to enjoy them. You can keep things classic with Italian greens sautéed in extra virgin olive oil and garlic, or order the greens and beans with sausage, Great Northern beans, and a fried banana pepper for an even heartier take.

And Italian greens aren’t limited to restaurant tables. At Jimmy’s Italian Specialties, you can pick up bags of frozen Italian greens to take home, making it pretty easy to keep one of our favorite local comfort foods on hand.

These are just a few stops to get you started. Trumbull County’s Italian Food Trail features more than 50 restaurants, markets, bakeries, and specialty food businesses connected to the area’s Italian food traditions. If Italian greens are what brought you in, there’s a good chance you’ll find plenty of other reasons to keep eating your way through the trail.

A Dish That Tastes Like Home

I believe we are truly lucky to live in an area with such pride for Italian American culture and our cuisine. A simple plate of Italian greens carries so much history about our ancestors and their means of survival. It evolved into a dish that we all know and love generations later.

In Trumbull County, our local restaurants continue to preserve our cuisine and history, and because of that, I believe that everyone should give us a visit to understand how rich our culture is.

For me, the beautiful thing about Italian greens is that they’re not fancy. The dish is simple, and yet, at the same time, families continue to enjoy this dish for generations on. It’s a part of our identity here in Trumbull County, and you didn’t need a million ingredients to make that impact.

 After several flights, booked hotels, and travels around the country this year, I couldn’t wait to come home and enjoy our local cuisine. 

And for a lot of people who left the area but still keep Trumbull County in their hearts, they cannot wait to return and do the same.