Class

The Art of Capturing Family History Through Food

Food memoir blends memories, verifiable family history, and the unique perspectives and personality of the teller. And food can be a non-threatening gateway to unguarded memories, informed by all-encompassing sensory touchstones. In this 4-week workshop we will read and discuss essays from a diverse group of influential food writers, whose writings reveal larger themes in the often-complicated stew of family relationships. You will then work on developing your own personal stories and writing style, using the lens of food to create an intriguing (or entertaining) view into your family history. There will be opportunities to write during class time, in addition to outside writing assignments, with oral feedback from the instructor and class peers. If you’d like to include recipes, either embedded in stories or as a stand-alone collection, we’ll cover the technical process of recipe testing and the creative ways of documenting them. We’ll conclude the workshop with a deep dive into ways to assemble and share your stories.

No class on July 4.

This class takes place in-person, at the Loft at Open Book; we encourage participants to be fully vaccinated and masked in the interest of everyone’s safety. Please see the Loft’s website for the most up to date information about the Loft’s COVID policies.