The details engraved on the corners of Recetario are inspired by cross-stitch patterns that are hand-sewn into the typical Panamanian dress, la pollera.
The exact dimensions and joinery methods from my grandmother’s recipe box were replicated, handmade in reclaimed mahogany (caoba), a native wood of Panama.
Recipe cards and a seasonal calendar of local foods live inside the recipe box. The object serves as a capsule for the memories shared around the table throughout time, as well as a container for homemade dishes to be handed down over generations.
The presentation of Recetario was followed by a shared meal I prepared and served around a makeshift table in the middle of our grad school classroom.
Currently (re)reading: Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara