Alex Hanesakda, Wisconsin

Being raised banh nawk and being raised in Wisconsin - synonymously, Lao farming and WI agriculture - growing up in my parents kitchen, helping them butcher and prepare food that we raised and foraged ourselves, I was fascinated with the idea of living off the land ever since I was a kid. A food memory that is cemented with me is the picture of our family in the refugee camp. Stories on end about my parents creating dishes with so little resources and considering that "soul food". Lao culture taught me that...

catzie vilayphonhNovember 26, 2016food, memories, refugee camp, wisconsin, farm, foraging, soul foodComment

Thavisak, Aon, Donny & Noy Sirisavath, Texas

These are photos of our late mother taken two years apart from Thanksgiving. 2010 was our last Thanksgiving dinner with mom before she passed away on June 06 2011 from cancer. Everything we learn about food came from her. We are thankful to be born as her sons and we will continue to carry on her love of cooking through Ma Der Food Co.

catzie vilayphonhNovember 26, 2016mom, food, thanksgiving, memories, ma der food co, cancerComment

Thip Soulisak, California

“One of my favorite memories of Thanksgiving at my house would be a whole weekend’s worth of food. We’d start on Thursday with traditional American dishes and by Friday my mom would turn the leftovers into Lao dishes like turkey laap, but turkey pho was always my favorite.

catzie vilayphonhNovember 26, 2016Thanksgiving, memories, food, recipes, laap, holidaysComment

May Lee Yang, Minnesota

When we have a spirit-calling ceremony called hu plig or when we have an ua neeb—I’m still not sure what the English translation on this is—my father feeds his parents. He sits at the kitchen table with a bowl of rice, a bowl of boiled chicken, and an empty plate. As though my grandparents are here and not on The Other Side, he scoops a spoonful of rice, tears off a piece of chicken, and pours some broth onto the plate. He repeats this, uttering words underneath his breath. How does he know how to do this? What are the words he utters? He has not taught any of us this ritual, and I wonder: Who will feed him when he is gone?

catzie vilayphonhMarch 30, 2014Hmong, spirit, food, father, lessons, ceremonyComment