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 of American Studies at TU Dortmund, Dr. Krishnendu Ray, Professor of Food Studies and Immigration, and Chef Eduard Frauneder. Through storytelling, conversation, and culinary reflection, we will explore how food serves as a carrier of memory across time and borders.  

Date: Tuesday, December 2, 2025 | Time: 6:00 to 8:30 PM | Location: German Consulate General New York | Contribution: 30 USD

Please register via the link HERE.

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 a sense of belonging. The evening will feature:

• Performative storytelling of Haensel and Gretel by Dr. Iris-Aya Laemmerhirt (TU Dortmund University), followed by a reflection on the intersection of hunger, migration, and cultural memory
• Contributions by Dr. Krishnendu Ray (NYU) 
• Culinary interpretations of tales, with a tasting menu created by Chef Eduard Frauneder
• Interactive exchange, inviting participants to contribute personal recipes and stories to a living Digital Storybook Cookbook