This exhibit celebrates food and culinary traditions in Queens, from our agricultural past to our urbanized and ethnically diverse present. Featured here, are the results of an oral history project designed to explore the culinary practices and traditional foods of diverse immigrant communities, conducted by undergraduate Sociology students at Queens College, City University of New York. They worked under the mentorship of Dr. Anahi Viladrich and Director of Queens Memory, Natalie Milbrodt.
Immigrants’ food histories provide a unique lens for examining the cultural, emotional, and ethnic legacies that continue to inform the traditional practices of Queens’ evolving communities. The expanded, physical version of this exhibit was installed at the Citi Bank building in Long Island City in spring of 2014. These are the oral history clips featured in the exhibit.
Embracing Nostalgia: Retracing Queens’ Culinary Traditions through Immigrants’ Voices
Creator: dmetes
Date Created: 11/13/2018
Related Places in the Gallery/Album
Athena Varnava makes koupepia (stuffed grape leaves) and gemista (stuffed tomatoes and peppers) at h
Athena Varnava stuffing grape leaves
Athena Varnava makes koupepia (stuffed grape leaves) and gemista (stuffed tomatoes and peppers) at h
Athena Varnava describes learning to make koupepia (stuffed grape leaves) from her mother-in-law.
Athena Varnava, Clip 2: Making koupepia
Athena Varnava describes learning to make koupepia (stuffed grape leaves) from her mother-in-law.
Luis Pinzon at his home in Woodhaven, Queens on the day of his interview for the Queens Memory Proje
Luis Pinzon at Home
Luis Pinzon at his home in Woodhaven, Queens on the day of his interview for the Queens Memory Proje
Sometimes the foods we grow up eating remain our favorites because they trigger warm and nostalgic m
Luis Pinzon, Clip 2: Eating Cuy
Sometimes the foods we grow up eating remain our favorites because they trigger warm and nostalgic m
Gjeva Celaj with her daughters and granddaughter.
Gjeva Celaj with daughters and granddaughters
Gjeva Celaj with her daughters and granddaughter.
Gjeva Celaj recalls her childhood on a farm in Peja, Kosovo and the many foods her family produced t
Gjeva Celaj, Clip 2: Homemade Yogurt and Coffee
Gjeva Celaj recalls her childhood on a farm in Peja, Kosovo and the many foods her family produced t
Viola Knor's granddaughter, Sarah, took this photo as Viola prepared pasta for a family dinner.
Viola Knors Making Pasta
Viola Knor's granddaughter, Sarah, took this photo as Viola prepared pasta for a family dinner.
Viola Knors cooks by memory, not by exact measurements or written recipes.
Viola Knors, Clip 1: Antonetti Family Cooking
Viola Knors cooks by memory, not by exact measurements or written recipes.
Judy Lee has lived in Queens most of her life.
Judy Lee
Judy Lee has lived in Queens most of her life.
Judy Lee recalls some of the foods her family purchased during her childhood in Bayside and Laurelto
Judy Lee, Clip 1: Food Delivery Services in Bayside
Judy Lee recalls some of the foods her family purchased during her childhood in Bayside and Laurelto
Nadia Germain contributed an oral history interview to the Queens Memory Project about her Haitian c
Nadia Germain
Nadia Germain contributed an oral history interview to the Queens Memory Project about her Haitian c
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