Food & Wine USA - (02)February 2021

FEBRUARY 2021 89

T

he auntie is a universal concept shared by many cultures

around the globe. She can be someone you’re related

to—even, though not necessarily, your actual aunt—or

she might be a family friend, or a member of your community.

Whoever she is, she is the keeper of tradition—and the good gossip.

And she is the consummate home cook. Your auntie doesn’t need

fancy techniques or ingredients. The food she makes feeds both

your appetite and your soul. Here, we gather the recipes of some

of our favorite aunties across the country: a Thai rice porridge that

will soothe you, an Armenian dessert that has survived war and

genocide, a Korean fried chicken that will remind you to celebrate

life, an Indian dish of chickpeas and fried bread that is always a

crowd-pleaser, and a Southern seafood mac and cheese that will

lift your spirits. We gathered their stories, too, so you can get to

know the incredible aunties who make our lives better—and more

delicious. They’ll do that for you, too.

PRODUCED BY KHUSHBU SHAH

I N

PRAISE

OF

Aunties

PHOTOGRAPHY: GERARD + BELEVENDER