New York City's kitchens are often seen as bastions of culinary excellence, but for many immigrant workers who toil behind the scenes, the experience is far from glamorous. A new book, "Voices from the Kitchen," sheds light on the harrowing journeys and dark moments that these workers have endured in their bid to build a better life in America.
The stories collected by chef Marc Meyer are nothing short of heart-wrenching. Jakeline, a former nun from Peru, recounts being robbed at gunpoint while working for a black-market currency exchange, while Rosie from El Salvador shares her terrifying experience of traveling inside a tanker truck with barely enough room to breathe. Angel from Venezuela tells the tale of being kidnapped twice by government agents for his activism.
These tales of survival and resilience are not unique to New York City's kitchens, however. The book reveals that similar struggles have been faced by immigrant workers in cities across America, from San Francisco to Philadelphia, Los Angeles to Texas. Despite the many differences between their experiences, a common thread emerges – the desperation, fear, and determination that drives individuals to leave everything behind in pursuit of a better life.
Meyer's own restaurant, Shuka, has become a sanctuary for these workers, who come together to share their stories and find camaraderie in the kitchen. It is here, amidst the chaos and heat of the culinary world, that they have found a sense of belonging and purpose.
In compiling this book, Meyer aimed to highlight the often-overlooked contributions of immigrant workers to American society. "We wouldn't have produce from the fields," he notes, "we wouldn't have staff to run our restaurants, we wouldn't be able to build restaurants... everything that is done that we have that is produced is by the hands of people who've come from other parts of the world."
The book's publication arrives at a particularly poignant moment in American history – with the Trump administration's mass deportation efforts casting a long shadow over the lives of millions of undocumented immigrants. As Meyer poignantly notes, "we all came from somewhere... and we arrived in the kitchen."
The stories collected by chef Marc Meyer are nothing short of heart-wrenching. Jakeline, a former nun from Peru, recounts being robbed at gunpoint while working for a black-market currency exchange, while Rosie from El Salvador shares her terrifying experience of traveling inside a tanker truck with barely enough room to breathe. Angel from Venezuela tells the tale of being kidnapped twice by government agents for his activism.
These tales of survival and resilience are not unique to New York City's kitchens, however. The book reveals that similar struggles have been faced by immigrant workers in cities across America, from San Francisco to Philadelphia, Los Angeles to Texas. Despite the many differences between their experiences, a common thread emerges – the desperation, fear, and determination that drives individuals to leave everything behind in pursuit of a better life.
Meyer's own restaurant, Shuka, has become a sanctuary for these workers, who come together to share their stories and find camaraderie in the kitchen. It is here, amidst the chaos and heat of the culinary world, that they have found a sense of belonging and purpose.
In compiling this book, Meyer aimed to highlight the often-overlooked contributions of immigrant workers to American society. "We wouldn't have produce from the fields," he notes, "we wouldn't have staff to run our restaurants, we wouldn't be able to build restaurants... everything that is done that we have that is produced is by the hands of people who've come from other parts of the world."
The book's publication arrives at a particularly poignant moment in American history – with the Trump administration's mass deportation efforts casting a long shadow over the lives of millions of undocumented immigrants. As Meyer poignantly notes, "we all came from somewhere... and we arrived in the kitchen."
, like, i know nyc's kitchens are supposed to be fancy and all that but come on, these people are literally risking their lives just to get a better life for themselves and their families. and its not just new york city either, rosie from el salvador sharing her story about traveling in a tanker truck barely breathing is like, my god what kind of world we living in 
. and the fact that these workers are finding a sense of belonging at this one restaurant shuka is just beautiful 
, its like they finally found a place where they can be themselves without being judged or exploited. i think this book is such an important reminder that there are people behind every meal, behind every dish, and we need to start giving them the respect and recognition they deserve 
.
It's like, I'm so proud of Marc Meyer for shedding light on this and giving a voice to these people who deserve it. I mean, can you even imagine having to travel in a tanker truck with barely enough room to breathe?! 
That's insane! And the fact that they're all fighting for their lives in America? It's just... wow.
. I mean, she went through so much and still managed to keep going, which is honestly a total testament to her strength and resilience. And the part about Jakeline being robbed at gunpoint? 
That's like, straight out of a horror movie!
. I mean, we're always talking about how great America is and all, but have you ever stopped to think about the people who are actually keeping it running? 
. It's like, the ultimate symbol of hope and community in the kitchen. Can we pls get a Netflix adaptation or something?! 
. We need more books like this, shedding light on the struggles of immigrant workers & highlighting their contributions to our society 
.
. We should all be doing more to lift each other up and create a more inclusive society 
.
I'm telling you, this whole thing is like, really fishy... I mean, have you ever stopped to think about why all these stories are coming out now? It's not a coincidence that this book drops at exactly the right time. The government's been cracking down on undocumented immigrants left and right, but it looks like someone's trying to turn the narrative around. Maybe they're trying to make us feel bad for 'em... 
