From a culinary guide with the goal of assimilation to a symbol of cultural recognition, we’ll dive into a cookbook that bridged cultures and funded social programs. This cookbook taught immigrant women to cook American dishes and became a cultural talisman passed down generations. It’s a story that showcases how one cookbook became a powerful tool for integration and resilience.
A Recipe for Assimilation
The changing of the seasons sets the stage for our discussion of the third wave of immigration in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As a massive wave of European immigrants hit the shores of the United States, personal, economic and social challenges crashed into established communities.
We focus on one Mid-Western community, a social service agency, and a cookbook that was much, much more than a collection of recipes.
Kim and Leigh, invite you to step back in time and uncover the significant role played by this cookbook as they share the history, impact, and thoughts on Mrs. Simon Kander’s The Settlement Cook Book, the way to a man’s heart and explore the age old question, “What is it to find equilibrium between assimilating into American society while preserving unique cultural identities?”
Episode Transcript
🎧 Click here for the full, interactive transcript of this episode 🎧
Sources We Found Helpful for this Episode
This 20th Century Jewish Immigrant Cookbook Inspired the Ultimate Dinner Party, Hey Alma
Taste Makers: Seven Immigrant Women Who Revolutionized Food in America, by Mayukh Sen
Books We Think You’ll Enjoy Reading
Taste Makers: Seven Immigrant Women Who Revolutionized Food in America, by Mayukh Sen
The Settlement Cookbook, by Mrs. Simon Kander
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Join us in two weeks when Kim shares the recipe that she chose to make from The Settlement Cook Book.
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EP 69 Cooking Up Integration: The Settlement Cookbook