A Table to Hold the World: Celebrating the Immigrant Roots of American Cuisine

Pangyrus Literary Magazine is thrilled to share a new, tasty collection of food writing. Immigrant cuisine doesn’t merely influence our American table, it is the American table. Without it, our plates would crash to the floor. This book celebrates and honors the bountiful cornucopia of cultures and people that influence how we nourish ourselves every day.

Two years ago, when I, along with Greg Harris, Founding Editor of Pangyrus, and Amanda Lewis, Managing Editor emeritus, conceived of the idea for A Table to Hold the World, we didn’t know what to expect. Would people respond to our call? Would the quality be high enough to populate a whole book? Does anyone have anything to say about food and the immigrant experience? That’s the thing about asking. Sometimes people don’t answer.

Dozens and dozens of submissions later, we realized. People had a lot to say.

And now, finally, we can share it with you! Launching at this year’s Boston Book Festival was apropos. Ten years ago, Pangyrus was launched at the BBF. Since then, Pangyrus has grown exponentially.

I’ve been the Food Writing Editor at Pangyrus since 2018 and have read every submission and edited every published piece. I am frequently amazed and overwhelmed at the talent of our writing community. To highlight the depth and breadth of what food writing can be, I chose to structure this collection as a menu. Slotting the pieces into sections was intuitive. Short and sweet? That’s amuse bouche! (Literally translated, “mouth amuser”) Something weightier that fills you up? Mains. Sweet and nostalgic? Afters.

I’ve read each of these pieces more times than I can count on my fingers and toes. Even after spending so much time with them, these stories still make laugh, cry, and sometimes supremely piss me off. While this book is absolutely a labor of love (we’re volunteers!) it was also birthed from anger and disappointment. At Pangyrus, we were, and sadly continue to be, appalled at the negativity and hostility targeted at vulnerable communities. How can a country founded by immigrants treat humans who simply want to work hard, improve their economic position, and make a good life for themselves and their families as undesirable and criminal? It’s unconscionable how easy it is for some to forget they were once the displaced person in search of a safe place to lay their head at night. Every immigrant story shores up the narrative of this nation. How bland this world would be without spice, without diversity of culture or of cuisine.

My immigrant story is shared by millions: I am an Eastern European Ashkenazi Jew. I tell that story in the introduction of this book. The lasting legacy of those who came before is is our food. The thirty-four contributors to this volume understand that. Below, from the left: Xinyi Song with me and seeing her piece for the first time. Andrea Pyenson, Kelsey Costa, Jessica Kent, and Suzannah Borysthen-Tkacz.

Beyond the words, the images tell a story as well. The cover and inside illustrations are the work of the very talented Diane Fiedler. When choosing an artist, I wasn’t sure what I wanted until I saw Diane’s work. I didn’t know what I wanted the cover to look at until I saw the dynamic collaboration between Douglas Woodhouse and Greg Harris. Below is the front and back cover. The black and white beet is from my introduction. The vibrant color version is now hanging on my office wall.

Between the covers, the production team of Kayla Griffin, Esther Weeks, and Kallie Hunchman brought the words to life. I’m grateful to have the chance to work with dedicated, passionate, literary professionals. There’s a lot of miserable stuff going on in the world but on these pages you will discover infinite joy and love. No matter the language, we find our shared humanity between the refrigerator and the kitchen table.

Please join us at Belmont Books on November 13th to celebrate the launch of this project! Come for the camaraderie, stay for the cake!

Order your own copy HERE!

Lastly, I’d like to thank all the authors. Some pieces came through absolutely perfectly. Others needed a bit of help, a few needed a lot of help. In the end, I’m proud of every piece and every author. Like our precious memories, this is a book to savor.

From the left: Sister Susan, Mom (Lita), Grandpa Dave, sister Judy, Debbie (me!), Dad (Bob) around the table around 1970. Mom, Dad, & Honey eating my home-rolled sushi around 1985.