Kitchens of hope Immigrants share stories of resilience and recipes from home

Review by Booklist Review

This cookbook is a much-needed salute to immigrants in Minnesota and the cultural and culinary talents they bring. Representing more than 30 countries, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, the 60-plus recipes range from the familiar to the not so common (e.g., Moroccan chicken pastilla and Mongolian buuz dumplings). Stories of resilience and hope populate this treasury, whether the tales of individuals fleeing from violence and war or those searching for opportunities. Profiles of contributors reveal many lawyers, food-industry professionals, and even the owner of a waffle factory. Profits from the book will raise funds for the state's Advocates of Human Rights organization, which offers legal help to people seeking asylum. Readers will want to take time to thoroughly read the inspiring anecdotes, and especially those based in Minneapolis-St. Paul will appreciate Svitak's recommendations for further resources.

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.

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Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

"Every recipe tells a story," assert the authors of this heartfelt cookbook, a fundraiser for the nonprofit Advocates for Human Rights. It's structured around profiles of 37 immigrants to the U.S. who share family recipes that range from the simple (Colombian Hogao, a tomato and onion sauce) to the complex (German leek tart). Most are not professional chefs; instead, the focus is on home-cooked, everyday fare, often in serving sizes fit for a crowd. Doris Parker, whose family fled to the U.S. just before Liberia's First Civil War, contributes instructions for peanut soup. Hiba Al-Hasnawi, who came to the states with the Iraqi and American Reconciliation Project multiple times before threats on her life made permanent relocation a necessity, serves up baba ghanoush. Somalian Halima Mohamed, the founder of Hoyo, a food production company that distributes traditional sambusas, or meat-stuffed pastries, shares her flagship recipe. The breadth of experience the authors attempt to capture is admirable, but there's a scattered quality to the finished product and some missing practical elements, like listing total cooking times or providing an index of recipes by ingredients or country of origin. Still, the noble intentions of this earnest anthology shine through. (June)

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Review by Library Journal Review

This unique collection by lawyers turned cookbook creators, which is a fundraiser for the Minnesota-based global nonprofit Advocates for Human Rights, reminds readers that for people who leave their homeland with very little, food can be a way of remembering. Recipes cover the globe and are organized by the concepts of community, resilience, opportunity, justice, hope, and celebration. Readers meet the immigrant chefs in brief biographies that share their story of coming to the U.S.; their recipes then follow. The layout features international fabric patterns contrasted by rich dark blue inter-chapter pages. A clean white background highlights recipes and photos of the chefs and dishes. Backmatter includes an index, a special ingredient glossary, and a wonderful additional reading list that features memoirs, cookbooks, fiction, and children's books addressing food and the immigration experience. This collection has the charm and warmth of a church cookbook but delivers a message that is important and universal: food keeps memories close and draws everyone to the table. VERDICT Overflowing with inspiration, this will be a hit for librarians looking for a cookbook club selection or a display tie-in. Good luck keeping it on the shelf for long, though, as this is sure to be a hit.--Sarah Tansley

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