copywriter
copywriter
In the past few years, Lauren Ko (@lokokitchen) has built a huge following of people that have witnessed pie-making become an art form. As fellow followers of her work and disciples of delicious things (like pie), my creative partner and I saw a chance to make a statement about America with (arguably) its favorite dessert: the apple pie.
Imagining what one might look like for Americans of different backgrounds, each pie featured a unique pattern inspired by that person’s culture— representing the ethnic tapestry of this country through one of its most beloved national symbols.
With liberty and crustice for all. 🥧I “American Pie” as a concept (Don McLean song and 90’s movie aside) often conjures images of golden, rustic apple pie and nostalgic memories of baking with grandma over the holidays. With the diverse makeup of our country today, there are so many stories that don’t necessarily fit into a traditional narrative but which are still very much American. I’m thrilled to partner with @theresidnyc and @bbdony to highlight several stories of multicultural American identity through the lens of individuals themselves and through pie!
Over the next year, we’ll feature different American individuals or families and their story along with a pie design inspired by patterns, colors, and/or flavors that give a visual of their unique Americanness.
I am the first generation in my family to be born in the United States. My father immigrated here from Hong Kong when he was 12 and my mother from Honduras as an adult.
I grew up in San Diego, spent most of my summers in Tegucigalpa with my grandparents, and have never been to Asia. English wasn’t my first language, but it is now my dominant one.
I’m generally not Asian *enough,* not quite Latina, and while I’ve lived in several different countries, the U.S. has still always been home, for better or worse. So it seems both ironic and perfect that I now reimagine a classic American dessert for a living. It’s equal parts not traditional enough, (not baked enough, hoho), and not radical enough. But American all the same.
This pie, like my childhood, is filled with mango; fragrant like the fruit I used to pick in the yard. And clothed in a design that is blue and white like the Honduran flag, blue and white like my grandma’s Chinese porcelain with the dragon motif, and blue and white like the California beachscape that is home. This is my American pie.
We’re continuing the series with Dominique. This grilled peach pie with cinnamon, ginger, and a braided design is inspired by the literal visual of her hair as well as how her American identity is rooted in the notion of supportive community.
“I’m a 3rd or 4th generation American. My mom, grandmother, and great-grandmother are all from New York City. When people think of an ‘American girl,’ they go to blonde hair, blue eyes, and apple pie, but here I am--chunky box braids with tassels at the end and peach cobbler and sweet potato pie.
“My heritage is Japanese-American. My mother’s parents emigrated from Japan to California early in the 20th century. My father’s parents left Japan for Hawaii in 1937 at the time of government/military crackdown on progressive forms of Buddhism. Both my parents’ families avoided internment after Pearl Harbor in completely different ways. That influenced their parenting. We were told that American English would be our first and native language. Like many other Japanese-Americans, assimilation was the order of the day. My earliest memories have been of cluelessness about being different.”
As Ryn reflects on her cultural influences, she says, “The older I get, the more I wish I had learned,” and the Japanese textile art of shibori--dyeing cloth manipulated into different patterns with folds and stitches--is one of those traditions that encapsulates that feeling. This pie design is inspired by that art form, and is filled with Fuji apple and miso caramel.
“My maternal ancestors fought in the Revolutionary War, and. My father’s family were poor Irish and Italian immigrants, who came to the States in the 1900s. I was initially reared in Louisville, by 5 women—grandmother, mother, aunt, cousin, and nanny—in a tiny house in the forest. It was a very artistic family following the tradition of my great-great-grandfather, who brought his family practice of stained glass from Penzance, Cornwall, England.
My heritage has been the rolling green hills of Kentucky and the humid roots of mangroves in south Florida. I was always running around barefoot in my childhood and loved the outdoors. Lime green, forest green, hints of chartreuse––the colorful hues of this #myamericanpie remind me of the rich forest that I adored as a toddler and the palm fronds that almost seemed explosive when moved by the Floridian winds.”
— Katie
We’re continuing the series with Peter. I’ve created this pie inspired by his heritage--with a savory lumpia filling and a design modeled after Croatian folk embroidery.
“My father is Croatian. He left former-Yugoslavia now Bosnia Herzegovina because there wasn’t much opportunity for him. My mother is from the Philippines. They met at a dance party in Queens in 1984 and married 3 months later.
As a mixed-race person born and raised in NYC, with a very Eastern European name, I learned quickly that people will often see two things: what they are most comfortable with and/or what they’re most uncomfortable with. Additionally, as a person with a disability, I’ve inherited the ideas of what it means to be disabled in the United States.
Growing up in Queens, I was given the opportunity to experience many different cultures. The embroidery on this pie to me represents how all the different cultures I’ve experienced and been influenced by (and continue to be) have been interlaced together and impact how I live. The intricacies and the simplicity show how very different things can come together to create something unique and beautiful.”
We’re continuing the series with Priscila. I’ve made this pie inspired by Incan art and filled with Peruvian comfort food, aji de gallina, to go with her story.
“Before moving to the US, my view of American life was basically Saved by the Bell. But then in 2002, I moved to Georgia and I realized the “American Dream” my parents were chasing wasn’t going to be as fun as Mario Lopez made it seem.
People didn’t know anything about Peru and I didn't want to give them more reasons to consider me an outsider, so I suppressed this part of my identity in order to fit in. As I grew up and moved to New York, I realized that part of me will never go away - I'm Peruvian American and my heritage is what makes me unique and allows me to look at things with additional lenses. I can cheer for Peru during the World Cup and the US during the Olympics. I love ceviche AND grits. I'm a hybrid of where I come from and where I am today - kind of like this pie, I'm aji de gallina but also a pie. This is a country of immigrants, some have been here for hundreds of years and others for weeks, but it doesn't change the fact that despite our differences, we can help each other move forward. It's my new American Dream.”
We’re continuing the series with Maia. I’ve made this pie inspired by colorful Ankara fabrics and it is filled with chicken and spicy hot West African pepper sauce.
“My mother is Liberian and Lebanese. She came to the States at the beginning of the civil war in Liberia. My father is black and Filipino. I define myself as black.
Heritage to me is where you come from as well as the cultural practices that you perform. I remember being around 11 years old and watching my grandmother cook my favorite meal--cassava leaf--at her house in Maryland. I distinctly remember her laughing and letting me stir the pot as I watched her add fish and chicken into the dish. Most of my memories regarding my cultural background and heritage relate to food.
We’re concluding the first round of the series with the Gentile family.
“Both of our families come from Italy. Growing up, my nana only made Italian food and bought everything at a store that imported food from Italy. My favorite memory is making pizzelles with her as a kid.
Pizzelles are traditionally an Italian holiday cookie but growing up, my Nana would make them for me year round because she knew how much I loved them. She would even send them in care packages to me at summer camp. It was like receiving a big hug in the mail knowing she took the time to make them and carefully package them up for me.
Last Christmas, our daughter devoured pizzelles for the very first time with such joy in her eyes. Perhaps these special cookies will also become a part of her childhood memories and something that connects her to her Italian heritage.”
I’ve made this pie inspired by grandma’s pizzelles, and it is filled with Italian plums and a splash of amaretto.