09/28/2026
A stunning book! What does the memory of a family meal mean to you? For survivors of World War II and the Holocaust, food memories provided an important emotional connection to families lost and traditions preserved.
Award winning chef and restaurateur and culinary historian and author have co-authored "Memories of a Good Meal: Recipes of Resilience Inspired by Stories of World War II Survival." (Harvest/William Morrow)
This book features ten diverse, moving accounts of Holocaust survivors and WWII heroes and cherished food memories. The stories will touch your heart, and the recipes will feed your soul. Examples: twin Jewish girls hidden by a Christian family foraging for food in the forest, a Navajo Code Takler who carries a sachet of corn pollen as a talisman into battle, a housekeeper who rescues a family's recipe book after they have been deported to Auschwitz and returns it to the survivors who were released.
"Memories of a Good Meal" grew from Alon Shaya's work with the Rescued Recipes initiative with the United States Holocaust Museum and his deep friendship with Holocaust survivor, Steven Fenves. To date, Rescued Recipes has raised over one million dollars.
This stunning book is coming hot off the press October 6, and we have a preview on The Connected Table Live podcast this week. We sat down for a conversation with Alon and June to lead up to this book's publication. You can watch or listen to this episode starting Wednesday, September 30, 1pm CST The Connected Table TV on YouTube.
Hardcover and audio book will be available. Sharing a few gorgeous photos from the book taken by Denny Culbert