Circulating Memories Through Food: The Italian American Experience in California

Everyone needs to eat. But food is not just a means of sustenance in order for us to perform our daily functions; it is also a method in which we develop an identity and grow closer to the cultures we identify with. The universality of food allows it to act as a looking glass into the cultures of others through a lens that makes it easy to draw connections, and eliminate misconceptions. The importance of food is omnipresent within the Italian American community as a means of maintaining a sense of belonging with other Italian American and building connections with those of other cultural backgrounds. The act of passing memories down through food is greatly present in Italian American culture through various areas, including agricultural practices, food writing, and consumer goods or restaurants.  

This exhibit explores the various ways in which the Italian American experience is disseminated through food and the ways in which food has influenced the experiences of Italian Americans in California. Furthermore, this exhibit explores the role of food in encapsulating memory, and how these memories influence perceptions of Italian Americans from those within and outside of the community. This exhibit touches on the role of food in bringing various cultures together and the ways in which food allows one to embrace and encourage diversity through food practices. 

In the section entitled “Growing Apricots in the Santa Clara Valley,” we discuss the lost history of the orchards that once thrived in what is now known as Silicon Valley. These orchards provided a variety of fruits and nuts that were grown on the vast land, which has now been built on for the benefit of new technological innovations. This section of our exhibit talks about the history of these orchards, as well as the Italian immigrants who put their hard work and expertise into keeping them thriving. It discusses both Italian men's and women’s contributions to the land, as well as my personal experiences with this topic. 

In the section entitled “Corporate Food Contributions,” we discuss how Italian immigrants were impacted and how they impacted the local food cultures around them, specifically focussing on the corporate impacts. We dive into the creation of Eataly and how the unique experiences in this store have aimed to bring part of Italy to their location in order to try and provide a taste of Eataly. We also explore how Eataly offers a place to learn about food, culture, and life through food. 

In the section entitled “Encapsulating Memories in Food Writing,” we discuss the ways in which the Italian American experience is shared and remembered through food writing. Particularly, we share how making Italian food relevant to one’s region became an act of survival of regional pride for those who immigrated to the United States and how food writing can correct popular misconceptions of Italian culture and food preparation through Luisa Giulianetti’s Agrodolce. We also explore how food memoirs can provide insight into the difficulties of assimilation and feeling close to one’s culture through Sandra M. Gilbert’s novel The Culinary Imagination. Lastly, we demonstrate how food writing can create the space needed to build bridges between cultures, through bonding around similar food beliefs and practices, particularly between immigrant groups.