Project launches free book about Syrian-Lebanese cuisine.

The digital work "Stories at the Table: The Cuisine of Syrian-Lebanese Families in Florianópolis" recovers memories and recipes of immigrants.

The Food with History project launches the digital book "Stories at the Table: The Cuisine of Syrian-Lebanese Families in Florianópolis"The work recovers the gastronomic and cultural memory of the immigrants who arrived in..." Santa Catarina between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The material is distributed free of charge on the internet via the following link: https://comidacomhistoria.com.br/

The publication details the historical trajectory and original recipes preserved for generations in families. Boabaid, Cherem, Daura, Daux, Mussi e HelloThe texts in the book also describe the process of immigrants adapting to the ingredients available in Brazil in order to recreate the customs of their homeland.

According to the book's organizer, Leyla SpadaThe material functions like a treasure chest that holds the culinary secrets of the community. She explains that the project was born from the desire to preserve family recipes that mark the emotional memory of descendants. "The families opened their homes to tell a little about the history of the immigrants who came from Lebanon to Florianópolis," she says. According to the author, the process of bringing these traditions together at the table is a way of rewriting the past with affection, gratitude, pride, and nostalgia.

From the field to commerce.

Currently, Brazil is home to the largest community of Lebanese people and their descendants in the world. There are approximately 8,8 million people in the country, a number greater than the population of Lebanon itself, estimated at 5,6 million inhabitants, according to [source needed]. Brazil-Lebanon Cultural Association.

Many of the immigrants who arrived in Brazil at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries abandoned their lives as farmers in the Middle East. Instead, they began working as peddlers, similar to street vendors at the time. With the fruits of their labor, they acquired the necessary resources to open traditional shops and businesses in Brazil. downtown florianopolis.

Cuisine as identity

Over the decades, and with integration into Brazilian society, many original customs of immigrant families lost strength. However, the traditional cuisine has endured as a key element of the cultural identity of these populations. More than just providing sustenance, gastronomy has become largely responsible for maintaining traditions, strengthening a sense of belonging, and uniting the younger generations.

Food thus became established as a language of affection and hospitality in the new land. Therefore, the book documents the preparation and offering of traditional foods that served as a practical tool for families to socialize with their local neighbors. In total, the publication documents more than 20 recipes divided among side dishes, sauces, sweets, pastes, and main courses, including classics such as kibbeh, esfihas, mjadra, stuffed grape leaves, and shish barak soup.

The book also serves as a cultural preservation tool, since many preparations were taught from generation to generation solely through oral tradition, often without any precise record of measurements. In this way, the publication ensures that this valuable knowledge is documented and organized, preventing the memory of these families from being lost to time.

Responsible for the book's creation, the multiplatform project "Comida com História" (Food with History) focuses on valuing gastronomic traditions. The group produces reports, videos, and podcasts with the aim of telling the stories behind the food, discussing food sustainability, and bringing consumers closer to small producers. The book's publication was made possible with sponsorship from the municipality, through... Municipal Law for Cultural Promotion in Florianópolis.