Memories of a Good Meal

“A book of sacrifice, of love, despair, of so many lifetimes now lost, and the abiding faith humanity possesses in its darkest moments. Is this the most meaningful cookbook I have ever read and cooked from? I can’t think of one more important. Alon Shaya and June Hersh have combined tzedakah and a mitzvot for us all, detailing the power of food, its many narratives, and the hold it has on us in its absence and its bounty.” — Andrew Zimmern “Chef Alon’s cookbook shares far more than just recipes. Each dish inspires us to listen, reflect, and gather together in gratitude of traditions that have been preserved across generations.” — Daniel Boulud “This is far more than a cookbook— Alon and June have collected stories and recipes of resistance and courage in the middle of a brutal war, showing us that food truly does have the power to change the world.” — Jose´ Andre´s “Memories of a Good Meal is a vignette of human resilience. It is the illuminating ray of light that breaks through the darkness of war, suffering, and tragedy. In the sharing of these incredible stories, Alon and June have written the most captivating cookbook in recent memory.” — Michael Solomonov “The stories and recipes Alon and June have helped to document shed new light and humanity on one of the darkest periods in our collective history. As the memories and their stewards fade with the passing of time, Alon and June have harnessed this sense of urgency into something with meaning and permanence.” — Adeena Sussman “Anything Alon Shaya does will be delicious, but in this new cookbook he will not only feed your belly but nourish your soul as well. These tales of survival and resilience are so powerful, and the recipes that accompany them are nothing less than a beautiful and historic record of the human spirit.” — Phil Rosenthal “This beautiful book is about the awesome, poignant power of recipes. They serve as talismans that connect to our past, repositories of our memories, and bonds to our families and heritage. And in this book, they are something even more: symbols of resilience and resistance in difficult times.” — Walter Isaacson “This is a book about food, but it’s really a book about people—about memory, resilience, and the quiet ways we care for one another. It reminds us that even in the darkest moments, a meal can convey dignity, identity, and love.” — Will Guidara “Memories of a Good Meal is a stunning book. It reminds us just how many recipes and food traditions vanished the wake of the Holocaust’s destruction. But just as importantly, it allows readers and home cooks to bring a taste of almost-lost Jewish culinary magic back to life in their kitchens.” — Leah Koenig, IACP Award–winning author of Portico “Chef Shaya’s latest work, in collaboration with June Hersh, tells the stories of Holocaust survivors, service members, and interned Japanese Americans in the war, conveying the importance of strength, resilience, and triumph through the most basic of human needs: food. . . . Through Alon Shaya’s Memories of a Good Meal, more inspiring World War II stories are brought to life alongside recipes, allowing us all to see, smell, and taste history.” — From the foreword by Col. Peter D. Crean (USA, Ret.), Vice President of Education and Access, The National WWII Museum