The FaM Story

An old Sicilian proverb declares:“chi lascia la via vecchia per la nouva, sa quell che perde e non sa quell che trova,” outlining that: whoever forsakes the old ways for the new, knows what he is losing but not what he will find.

Our research through literature, design, food, and food studies provides a confluence of ideas, cultures, values, and passions–articles of the human condition often lost in the non-transferable programming of microwaved meals, fast food, and pre-packaged products.

We maintain that food-making is meaning-making, and like our classrooms, creating is an art; a canvas that deepens our connection with others. Through experiential learning with handmade tools, we will demonstrate and discuss our creative practices centered around tradition(s).

Anna Smith and Tom Cook, argue that food, and even moreso, food creation la via vecchia[“the old way”] serves as a signifier and pathway to our larger identities and symbolic familial relationships. From preliminary to professional practice, learning through the exploration of hand-making(Fatto a Mano) and passing on these skills are embedded in the fibers of our being: in the tool shop; in the kitchen; in our classrooms.

Practice is a process; Process is a practice.