Stories and Flavors we Inhabit

Summary

This book is the result of a collective process that gathered neighbors from Santa María la Ribera in culinary and cultural exchanges held in Casa Gallina on Saturdays between April and July 2023. It was coordinated by Balbina Pérez, a promoter of supportive economies, and Miguel Iwadare, a gastronomical researcher. The project was a space to share significant recipes and reflect on the relationship between food, identity and territory in a diverse urban neighborhood. The dialogues and camaraderie wove personal stories that were captured in this publication, that is enriched by the perspectives of hosts and participants.

The book combines anecdotes on affective memories of food, daily menus that highlight the link between food and identity, and a glimpse at the paths of food from origins to table. It includes contributions by inhabitants of different ages, genders and occupations, who contributed recipes and experiences that reflect the community’s richness. It also contains a directory of local producers and alternate markets, reinforcing the value of that which is local in building a shared gastronomy. This project is a celebration of Santa María la Ribera’s communal links and characteristic cultural diversity.