Memorializing the recipes and stories of immigrant women with Anna Frances Gass

This week, we’re excited to welcome ANNA FRANCESE GASS to Salt + Spine, the podcast on stories on cookbooks.

Anna is the author of Heirloom Kitchen: Heritage Recipes and Family Stories from the Tables of Immigrant Women.

Anna was born in Italy and grew up in the United States. After going to culinary school and working for major food companies, she realized she didn’t know how to make her mother's meatballs—a recipe that wasn’t written down, but held in her mothers’ memory. And that launched a multi-year project, chronicling the stories and recipes of immigrant women.

In today’s episode, we’re talking with Anna about the process of joining 45 women in their kitchens to learn their recipes and family stories, about what led her to food and food media in the first place, and why she believes America is less of a melting pot and more of a stained glass.

Also in today’s show: We’re stopping by OMNIVORE BOOKS in San Francisco to chat with CELIA SACK.