Tasting the Past: Exploring Kansas Food Memories

Food is a powerful expression of cultural memory. For years, ethnic groups in Kansas have used food to maintain connections to the past. When the Greek Orthodox congregation of Overland Park observes communion a parishioner bakes prosfero, a special bread marked with religious symbols. Communities near Lindsborg remember their homeland with food celebrations that feature dishes common to Sweden, such as pickled herring, codfish, and lingonberries. This presentation will explore food traditions from a number of ethnic populations in Kansas, including German, Czech, Italian, Jewish, and others.