How to Order | Table of Contents | Featured Recipe
Fundraising Info | Reviews | Links | Questions
Tour | About the Book | About the Author
THE ELLIS ISLAND IMMIGRANT COOKBOOK
About The
Book
Thank you for visiting the Ellis
Island Immigrant Cookbook website. As a single-title, self-published book, it is not as
readily available in bookstores as I would like. So I am hoping this site is helpful to
you who know the book and want additional ones or for those of you who are just finding
out about the book and want to know more.
I began the book by sending out a
press release to wire services and newspapers throughout the country announcing a national
recipe search for authentic Ellis Island immigrant recipes. Many newspapers wrote of my
search and the recipes started to come in. I encouraged people to include family histories
and after I read two or three of them, I knew they would be a valuable addition to the
book. Individually, these reminiscences are heartfelt and warming. Taken as a whole they
provide a glimpse of how these immigrants all arrived on a island off Manhattan, and after
a medical and legal inspection, entered the United States to begin their new live and the
difficulties and successes they encountered. Surely they would have been most anxious to
be in their new kitchens and recreate the smells and tastes that would remind them of
home.
The spiral-bound book is 272 pages
and contains recipes representing thirty countries. When I worked at Ellis Island as a
National Park Service ranger giving tours, I became familiar with the questions visitors
had about Ellis Island. I decided to include a brief history, chronology, tips on saving a
family recipe, information on planning a trip to Ellis, etc. A few years ago, for an
upcoming appearance on the television program, QVC, I updated the book and added Immigrant
Food Memories and additional recipes.
Each year in June, I attend the
Chicago Printers Row Book Fair and in at the end of September finds me at New York Is Book
Country. If you should ever happen to be at either of those events, please be sure to stop
and say hello.
You will find more information about
the book on the site, including ordering the book by credit card with an 800# or by check
through mail order. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Thank you.
Tom Bernardin
How to Order | Table of Contents | Featured Recipe
Fundraising Info | Reviews | Links | Questions
Tour | About the Book | About the Author
