97 Orchard: An Edible History of Five Immigrant Families in One New York Tenement

At the turn of the last century, immigration to New York City was at its peak and the Lower East Side was the most densely populated spot on Earth. Food emerged as a distinctive marker of ethnic identity for these newest Americans. In 97 Orchard, Jane Ziegelman explores the culinary world that was at the heart and soul of the immigrant experience.

Tenement dwellers had to cook in kitchens that had no running water or refrigeration, but were able to purchase a dazzling array of ingredients from around the world, from German sauerkraut to Italian pizzarelli to bagels and knishes. Through restaurants, street vendors and neighborly hospitality, foods that had once only been known to a specific ethnic group worked their way into the mainstream. 40 recipes are included in this fascinating exploration of our collective culinary heritage.

Jane Ziegelman is the founder and director of Kids Cook!, a multi—ethnic cooking program for children. She has presented food related talks and cooking classes in libraries and schools throughout New York City. Her work has appeared in a number of newspapers, magazines, and books, including The New Cook’s Catalog. She is the co—author, with her husband, of Foie Gras: A Passion. She lives in Brooklyn.

“A welcome addition to the canon inspired by the Tenement Museum on the Lower East Side ... [Ziegelman] dishes delectable morsels of ethnic gastronomy.” — New York Times