Latvians Abroad Museum releases cookbook highlighting diaspora cuisine

The Latvians Abroad Museum is publishing a bilingual cookbook titled Māju Garša (Taste of Home) to document Latvian food traditions outside of Latvia.

The museum will officially launch the book on November 18th, which is the independence day of Latvia. The book features 25 tested recipes that show how Latvians living in different countries have adapted their culinary habits. These dishes include beef pies from Brazil and Thai-style meatball soup from America.

Each of the 12 chapters combines these recipes with personal stories, historical photos, and artifacts from the museum's collection to explore how food connects people to their homeland. The museum curator, Marianna Auliciema, says the project helps people understand the link between cooking habits and cultural identity. Researcher Astra Spalvēna says the book is the first of its kind to gather the culinary experiences of the Latvian diaspora to show how traditions have changed over time.

People can buy the book at the Latvians in the World museum in Riga or at select bookstores.