Similar to how many churches used to do, when they were centers of community and bearers of generational knowledge, this cookbook is composed entirely of favorite recipes submitted by your neighbors, here in the Garfield Park Neighborhood.  More than just a “how to” cook, this text is an archive of cultural heritage. This is "what" we cook, but also "why" we cook, and "why" we eat... and even "what" and "who" we hold most dear, expressed through our collective culinary history. Some of this you will find in the texts of the recipes themselves, I only very minimally altered any texts, aiming to preserve and amplify the many histories of generations of artists who have contributed this edition. Some recipes as well include beautiful anecdotes, snapshots of the lives that crafted these works of arts. This is a way to preserve and pass on historical memory, which is encapsulated so well in food culture.  

Of course, in the wake of the COVID-19 Global Pandemic, it has been harder to share food. But to our animal cores, sharing food is so important.  Within our oldest, common ancestral memory, we know that the act of sharing food creates security.  The act of willfully doing so distinguishes a collaborator from a competitor. You would not let down your guard enough to share your precious life-giving resources with someone you fear. My belief is that by sharing these recipes, we can rekindle some community connectivity around food.

As well, very unique to this project and my involvement is the idea of translating these works to original musical compositions. The idea of pairing recipes with music is in part another response to "The Now", the isolation of our current timeline. To be immersed in anything entirely, is so difficult, because anxiety is so prevalent within us all. But music is yet another access point for collective memory, and helps to make eating this dish a full sensory-immersive experience. What do "Sonora Dogs" sound like? How can I better understand the feelings of love imbued within "Mom's Spinach Balls"? Can I really taste AND hear the ocean in "Grandma Joanie's Baked Clams"?!? Let's find out!

Happy Tasting, Pleasant Cooking, Enjoy the Ear Candy, 

Clockwork Janz
Culinary Composer