Heirloom Kitchen
Author(s): Anna Francese Gass
A gorgeous, full-color illustrated cookbook and personal cultural history, filled with 100 mouthwatering recipes from around the world, that celebrates the culinary traditions of strong, empowering immigrant women and the remarkable diversity that is American food.
Born in Italy, Anna Francese Gass came to the United States as a young child and grew up eating her mothersItalian cooking. But when this professional cook realized shedid not knowhow to make her familys beloved meatballsa recipe that existed only in her mothers memoryAnna embarked on a project to record and preserve her mothers recipes for generations to come.
In addition to her recipes, Annas mother shared stories from herlife in Italy that her daughter had never heard before,fascinating tales that whetted Annas appetite to learn more. So, Anna began reaching out to her friends whose mothers were also immigrants,and soon she wascooking with dozens of women who were eager to share their unique memories and the foods of their homelands.
In Heirloom Kitchen, Anna brings together the stories and dishes of forty strong, exceptional women, all immigrants to the United States, whose heirloom recipes have helped shape the landscape of American food. Organized by region, the 100 tantalizing recipes include:
In addition to the dishes, these women share their recollections of coming to Americastories of hardship and happinessthat illuminate the power of food, and how cooking became a comfort and a respite in a new land for these women, as well as a tether to their native cultural identities.
Accented with 175 photographs, including food shots, old family photographs, and ephemera of the cooks first years in Americasuch as Soons recipe book pristinely handwritten in Korean or the measuring cup Anke tucked into her suitcase before leaving GermanyHeirloom Kitchen is a testament to female empowerment and strength, perseverance, diversity,and inclusivity. It isa warm and inspiring reminder that the story of immigrant food is, at its core, a story of America.
Profiled women and countries:
Gina (Calabria, Italy)
Maria (Calabria, Italy)
Lisetta (Sardinia, Italy)
Kanella (Greece)
Stacey (Scotland)
Emilia (Ukraine)
Tsilia (Ukraine)
Marina (Moscow)
Bea (Serbia)
Monika (Poland)
Susanne (Hamburg, Germany)
Anke (Berlin, Germany)
Tina (North China)
Daisy (South China)
Chizuko (Japan)
Soon (Korea)
Magda (Philippines)
Lydia (Philippines)
Khurshed (India)
Shobhana (India)
Shari (Iran)
Cheri (Iraq)
Lucy (Armenia)
Irene (Lebanon)
Shekaiba (Afghanistan)
Fethie (Palestine)
Nikita (Haiti)
Janet (Mexico)
Haydee (Puerto Rico)
Rocio (Peru)
Angela (Cuba)
Maria (Dominican Republic)
Morgana (Brazil)
Sheila (Panama)
Jennipher (Ghana)
Safoi (Morocco)
Amina (Egypt)
Review(s):
Heirloom Kitchenis a stunning book that delves deeply into the rich cooking traditions of immigrant women and the immense legacy they have left on the American palate and food customs. The cooking of immigrants is the foundation of American food culture.
Food is culture. Heirloom Kitchen is a deliciously soulfullook atthe complexities of our American identity, and highlights one of the principle ways in whichthe past has always been female. Here is an inspiringlook at a diverse group of a few of our founding females.
The from-scratch recipes of our immigrant families are the most important ones to preserve in our takeout, premade world.Annashows us how to smell the sauce and hear the sizzles of our own unsung home-cook forebearers, while also sharing delicious traditional recipes from around the world.
Anna has a wholehearted conviction that cooking and self-expression are one and the same. It made sense that she took on this ambitious celebration of immigrant women, paying tribute to their remarkable personal stories and best-loved dishes, as well as the inextricable nature of the two.
ISBN:9780062844224
