New York

Once Upon a Bite: Food, Folklore and Cultural Memory

UA Ruhr and 1014 – space for ideas invite you to an evening with Dr. Iris-Aya Laemmerhirt, Assistant Professor for American Studies at TU Dortmund  and Chef Eduard Fraunhofer. Through storytelling, conversation, and culinary reflection, we will explore how food carries memory across time and borders.  

Date: Tuesday, December 2, 2025

Time: 6:00–8:30 PM

Location: German Consulate General New York

Food in folk tales is more than nourishment; it is enchantment, temptation, danger, and reward. From Hänsel and Gretel’s breadcrumb trail to the forests of the Brothers Grimm, stories reveal how food reflected both fear of hunger and dreams of abundance. Today, food continues to tell stories of migration, memory, and belonging.

The evening will feature:

• Performative storytelling inspired by classic folktales such as Hänsel and Gretel
• Culinary interpretations of tales, with a tasting menu created by Chef Eduard Fraunhofer
• Scholarly reflection by Dr. Iris-Aya Laemmerhirt on the intersection of hunger, migration and cultural memory
• Interactive exchange, inviting participants to contribute personal recipes and stories to a living Digital Storybook Cookbook

Please register via the link here.