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.