Moving back home has been a journey of reconnection, nostalgia, and, surprisingly, an ongoing debate with my friends.

Well, perhaps not a debate, but more of a friendly back-and-forth, with me advocating for something they often argue just isn’t in demand. But isn’t it?

As someone who’s lived in a larger city, I find myself longing for more diverse food options in our town. Our local restaurants are undeniably delicious, yet there’s a part of me that craves the variety I once had access to.

My friends, many of whom understand the business side of things better than I do, insist the demand isn’t there. But I can’t shake the feeling they might be underestimating us foodies.

Let me be clear: I’m not claiming to be an outlier.

In fact, I believe I’m part of a larger group in this community — people who, like me, would eagerly embrace a wider range of culinary experiences. I’m not knocking those who wouldn’t dream of touching sushi or who view steak tartare as more of a bacterial risk than a delicacy. Growing up, my exposure to different foods was limited, and my mother — bless her — did her best, but there were many foods I hadn’t even heard of.

Mangos? Butternut squash soup? A portobello mushroom that could rival a steak? These were all foreign concepts to me at the time.

Interestingly, it wasn’t my move to a bigger city that expanded my palate.

Instead, I credit my culinary growth to two unexpected sources: the Food Network and Google. I became obsessed with food shows, learning short ribs could be prepared in a myriad of ways, beets didn’t have to come from a can, and roasting them with just a touch of olive oil, salt and pepper could make them sing.

I discovered a well-cooked steak didn’t need A1 sauce and that desserts could extend far beyond the typical cake, cookies and ice cream.

This food awakening led me to dive headfirst into new culinary adventures. I experimented in my own kitchen, trying out the dishes I had seen on TV and read about online. I even forced my family to eat my seven-layer vegetable pie.

That was a battle and clearly didn’t become part of our dinner rotation.

And, as much as I enjoy cooking, there are times when I wish I didn’t have to prepare these meals myself to experience them. I long for a place nearby where I could indulge in tapas, French cuisine, farm-to-table offerings, or even just classic American dishes with no specific ethnic twist.

I feel the need to say this — I firmly believe we have some of the best Italian food in the country, hands down. No place I’ve been can compare to the rich, authentic flavors we’re blessed with here.

A recent discovery has deepened my appreciation for our local Italian offerings — Yosteria in Youngstown.

Sad to say, I hadn’t been there until just recently. However, in the past week, I’ve already visited three times. Clearly, I’m obsessed. It sets itself apart from other Italian experiences with its food and atmosphere. The food is out of this world — you’re transported to Tuscany with the gnudi, Sicily with olives and Lombardia with bresaola.

They even make their own rose, which is so freaking good that I attempted to bribe the server to sell me a bottle. She, however, remained loyal to the owner.

We also have a few other gems here and there that bring delightful variety to our local food scene.

The point is, I believe we want more.

I proudly identify as a locavore — someone who loves to eat local and shop local markets, appreciating every bite. Nonetheless, when my taste buds are calling, I’ve found myself driving 30 minutes or more outside our area to find the variety I crave.

It’s a journey I’d rather not make, but one I’m willing to take.

So here’s my question to you: Could we be ready for more? I believe there’s a growing number of us who are hungry — not just for food, but for new flavors and experiences. This is not a call to abandon what makes our local food scene great, but rather an invitation to imagine what it could become with a little more variety. Who knows? Maybe we’re more ready than we think.

And now, I’d love to hear from you. What are your thoughts about the food options in our area? Is there a particular style of food you’ve experienced elsewhere that you wish we had here? Send me your thoughts and let’s start a conversation about the future of food in our community.

This is from me to you.

Mother, author, entrepreneur, and founder of Dandelion-Inc, Lisa Resnick wants to hear your story. Share memories with her by emailing lisa@dandelion-inc.com.