Kitchens of Hope

"Kitchens of Hope proves that recipes are far richer when we honor the human stories behind them. This moving, lovingly constructed cookbook puts the voices of immigrant cooks front and center—and captures the breadth and beauty of the immigrant experience in America."—Mayukh Sen, author of Taste Makers: Seven Immigrant Women Who Revolutionized Food in America

"Kitchens of Hope celebrates the rich diversity of this wonderful country that is America, which has served as a beacon to immigrants from all over the world who are searching for a better life for themselves and their families. We are all Americans, and yet in pots in kitchens across the country different aromas and flavors are percolating thanks to immigrants who have brought the flavors from whence they came. This well-done book benefits a great cause: the immigrant cause."—Lidia Bastianich, best-selling cookbook author, restaurateur, and Emmy Award–winning public television host

"This is more than just a cookbook—it’s a celebration of America’s rich tapestry of culinary traditions and cultures, blending delicious immigrant recipes with inspiring stories of resilience and courage. Kitchens of Hope captures the essence of what makes our country so unique. It is also a vital social history that belongs on the required reading list for every American history class."—Grace Young, James Beard Award–wining author of Stir-Frying to the Sky’s Edge

Culinary journeys from around the globe: recipes and stories from immigrants to the United States

Immigrants carry more than hope as they cross oceans and traverse continents to come to the United States. They hold tightly to stories and recipes, remembrances of what they left behind. Kitchens of Hope brings together these memories from contributors who hail from more than thirty countries, offering a glimpse into their kitchens and insight into their lives. This book is a celebration of people and cuisines from around the world, infused with the aromas of epazote and cardamom, the tang of fish sauce, the heat of chile peppers, and the bite of mustard greens.

With tales as compelling as the brimming bowls and overflowing platters of these foods that represent home, Kitchens of Hope features immigrants coming from vastly varied circumstances. Some arrived in the United States fleeing war and violence, others were seeking education and opportunity; some have called the United States home for years, and others have only recently arrived. Despite the differing situations that brought them here, the contributors all find comfort and tradition as they gather to share meals with family and friends. They are activists and entrepreneurs, parents and community leaders, and some are affiliated with the Minnesota-based nonprofit the Advocates for Human Rights, the organization that inspired the creation of this book.

Structured around the contributors’ personal stories of their journeys, the chapters reflect the main themes connecting them: community, resilience, opportunity, justice, hope, and celebration. In these pages, readers will find inspiration, along with more than fifty recipes, from curry, mole, biryani, and borscht, to pita, pho, sambusa, pupusas, and so much more. Welcome to the Kitchens of Hope table.

Linda S. Svitak served as a trial lawyer at Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath for thirty-five years. She has volunteered with the Advocates for Human Rights for more than a decade.

Christin Jaye Eaton has been an attorney at Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath for thirty years. Her pro bono service has included cases involving immigrant status. She was introduced to the Advocates for Human Rights through its collaboration with her law firm.

Lee Svitak Dean spent four decades writing about food for the Star Tribune Taste section, including twenty-six years as editor. She is coauthor of The Ultimate Minnesota Cookie Book, also published by the University of Minnesota Press.

Loan Huynh has practiced immigration law for more than twenty years and has volunteered with the Advocates for Human Rights since 1996, currently serving on its board. She fled Vietnam in 1975 with her siblings and parents.

Tom Wallace had a long, award-winning career in small-town community journalism before he arrived at the Star Tribune as a photographer and photo editor. He has received national recognition for his food photography in the newspaper’s Taste section.