Welcoming Anisa to the podcast today, who works as a food photographer under the delightful moniker @thewonkystove - a title just as quirky, unique, and delightful as Anisa herself. Anisa arrived in the US as a very refugee from the former Soviet Union. Anisa’s Jewish Ukrainian family suffered especially cruelly under their communist rule. Her mother’s great courage in fleeing to the United States, and resilience in the face of tragedy once she arrived here, is an inspiration. Beyond that, Anisa’s experience with food insecurity teaches us how we, as a society, need to respond to and support brave family’s like Anisa’s. If this sounds like a dark episode, you’ll learn that humor is one of the greatest legacies of Anisa’s family - and perhaps a secret weapon in their success. I couldn’t be more honored to share Anisa’s stories. Welcome Anisa - and welcome to YOU, listeners, who honor Anisa’s story by listening.

Highlights

The subversive answer her mother gave to the Communist Party as a child

Anti-Semitism in the USSR

Her uncle's sentence to Siberia and the risky way Anisa's aunt worked to set him free

How Odessa is unique in Ukraine - Romani, Jewish, Greek, & Turkish people

"I live with myself. Sometimes I'm not that great."

The generosity of Ukrainians & the joy of feeding others

Leaving the Soviet Union and arriving in the US as refugees

Anisa's experience with food insecurity and helping the right way

"To go crazy from too much"

New Year's Celebration & Russian Folklore

Eggplant Rolls

The proper way of choosing and preparing eggplant

Listen to Anisa Now

Anisa's Storied Recipe: Ukrainian Eggplant Pepper Rollups

https://thestoriedrecipe.com/ukrainian-roll-ups-baked-eggplant-appetizer/

Contact Anisa

Instagram: @thewonkystove

More Episodes with Guests of Jewish Heritage

More Episodes with Guests of Eastern European Heritage

Have you heard the episode with Liz Zunon, Author and Illustrator of the stunningly beautiful autobiographical children's book Grandpa Cacao? If not, you'll want to either pause this right now and go back and listen to it!!!!  

Grandpa Cacao's Granddaughter was one of my favorite episodes ever. We discuss Liz's years in the Ivory Coast and her Ivorian family who worked the cacao farms there. Liz gives us a bit of an education on chocolate farming and the definition of fair trade chocolate. We also discuss Liz's artistic process in creating this truly beautiful and uplifting book about the power of cooking to connect generations, even across continents.

So again, if you haven't listened yet - you can listen to the original episode with Liz Zunon here:

And if you *have* listened, I am so excited to welcome Liz back to discuss the reception of her book. We also talk about the 18 books she's now illustrated at this point in her career and all the different techniques she's used - including hand-stitching dresses for her most recent project! Liz also shares some happy news from her personal life just in time for Valentine’s Day this week. 

Highlights

How Liz's family received "Grandpa Cacao"

The most rewarding part of the release

The multitude of artistic techniques used in her 18(!!) books

The varying design processes for her work 

Listen to Liz Now

Liz's Storied Recipe: Chocolate Celebration Cake

https://thestoriedrecipe.com/chocolate-celebration-cake/

How To Contact Liz Zunon

Grandpa Cacao: A Tale of Chocolate, From Farm to Family on AmazonHer Amazon Store pageHer website: lizzunon.comInstagram: @lizzunonFacebook: Elizabeth Zunon - IllustratorTwitter: @elizabethzunon

More Episodes with Authors

More Cake Recipes

Quiara grew up Lousiana, but now lives in Port au Prince, with her Haitian husband. They question how to live Mennonite values in a city ruled by gangs that terrorize citizens, merchants, and police.

My graphic designer discusses how she walked me through the creative and emotional process of designing new podcast artwork.

Elyes Taleb, a native Tunisian living in Paris, shares the Oula Ceremony where northern Tunisians make couscous for the coming winter.

Theresa Korte talks about how she copes with the diagnosis, treatment, and trials of Multiple Sclerosis - and the role food choices play in all of this.

A private and deeply personal holiday tradition I've observed for over 20 years now - sharing with you.

Every Christmas, this immigrant family made a British classic with laughter, joy, booze - and everyone got at least one turn with the spoon.

A warm nostalgic episode about 4 sisters making 3000 Christmas chocolates for charity, teachers, friends, and family.

An uplifting Thanksgiving podcast episode. Warm Thanksgiving memories shared in 28 funny and nostalgic vignettes from listeners of The Storied Recipe podcast.