The U.S.’s most respected immigrant chefs share their stories, cultures, careers, childhood food memories & recipes
Travel the world vicariously, revel in other cultures and be inspired by these American dream stories - A great read & cookbook for trying delicious, easy-to-make recipes from Africa, Asia, South America, The Caribbean, Europe & U.S. Regions that the whole family will enjoy.
Norwegian Baker
Swedish Illustrator & Cookbook Author
“Here is a fascinating cookbook that captures the aroma of America’s neighborhoods – a culinary scrapbook celebrating our diversity. Indeed, this magical melting pot we call America is a dish of untold ingredients. Warmhearted, witty, and wonderfully told, The Magical Melting Potä captures the delight of childhood as remembered by the fragrant smells from the family kitchen. With enthusiasm, Michelle Greenwald brings to life the childhood stories of many of today’s culinary icons. In the process, she draws us back to our own special memories shared with family and friends, inviting us in and welcoming us home. During my 12 years of cooking for visiting world leaders at Blair House, the Presidential guesthouse, I often searched our culinary heritage, examining the nexus between our country’s Regional cooker and the influences found around the world. Michelle Greenwald has captured that. The Magical Melting Potä is a vivid snapshot conveying the colors of our ever-growing tapestry. Cooking is a gift we give our children and pass on from generation to generation. The Magical Melting Potä is a gift we give our children and pass on from generation to generation. It offers us the tools to foster the true pleasure of cooking and good kitchen fun with our own children, while learning more about the many who make us one – and we are the beneficiaries. Alice Waters’ “Grilled Corn”, Patrick O’Connell’s “Rhubarb Pizza,” Thomas Keller’s “Peach Jello,” Samuel Oh’s “Cellophane Nooodles,” Marion Cunningham’s “Stuffed Artichokes,” Madeleine Kamman’s “Crêpes with Apple Butter” … all are served with a pinch of childhood memories and richly remembered. Come join in the fun and celebrate the senses with your family. Perhaps you’ll discover a great chef-in-waiting wandering around your kitchen. Could it be that behind every great chef there seems to be the guiding hand of a grandmother’s cooking?”
“One of the great strengths of American culture is its diversity. Nowhere is this more evident than in our ever-changing national cuisine, which, like folk art, prompts cherished memories of home and heritage. In The Magical Melting Potä,Michelle Greenwald invites us to share personal stories, vibrant colors, rich aromas, and wonderful tastes from every corner of the globe. In this engaging and warm-hearted volume, the whole family may explore the truly delicious fare of today’s multicultural America.”
"Learning to be a chef began in my grandmother’s kitchen, surrounded by the smells, sights, and tastes of my childhood. This kind of generational transfer serves to preserve traditional cuisines and encourages a sense of community. The Magical Melting Potä succeeds as a global collection of these diverse experiences - filled with cultural nuance, tried and true recipes and hand-on discovery. It brings to its readers what we all have in common – the powerful memory of food that shapes our own histories.”
“Like Water for Chocolate meets Babette’s Feast, The Magical Melting Potä is a gorgeous, exciting adventure in learning through pleasure. This lovingly prepared, richly appointed volume teaches cultural diversity through personal experiences and sensory memories. It’s an important and innovative exercise in mutual sharing and transcultural education that is accessible to and rewarding for the whole family.”