Food and Recipes

My Grief Is My Oyster: Modern Loss piece by Laura Madaio

My Grief Is My Oyster

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Sloppy and raw, with unpredictable shapes, the loss of my father resembles one of the last special meals we shared.

The Good Work of Providing Good Food for Solace

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Some delicious and nourishing ways to lift the burden of cooking from a grieving person's shoulders.

On Father’s Day, Grief Tastes Like Berry Cobbler

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When Dad was here, we made olallieberry jam on Father’s Day. Now that he’s gone, our sweet tradition has evolved. 

Why I Love IKEA

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Shopping there is my wildly commercialized way of keeping my Swedish grandmother’s legacy alive. (Plus, family recipes for Swedish ginger snaps and coffee cake.)

Bring Soup, Not Salad

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And other rules for feeding mourners from a pair of foodies who’ve been there.

Sautéing My Way Through Grief

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When my best friend died in a car accident, I felt compelled to take up cooking. Here are three recipes that helped me through.

Grief Bacon: Don’t Make Them Eat Cake

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Endless comfort food can be the opposite of comforting to someone dealing with loss. Here are 5 gifts to show you care –without the added sugar.

Mourning with Miso

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When someone is cracked wide open from grief, I bring over a briny soup to help replenish the tears they've lost. Here's my recipe.

Chicken Chow Found

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I've spent years attempting to rebuild my dad's favorite recipe. And with a simple wok, I've connected our family with him anew.

An Ice Cream Truck at the Funeral

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And 6 other meaningful ways to incorporate food — and cocktails — into a memorial.

Why I’m Eating French Fries on Mother’s Day

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My mom loved fresh vegetables, until she became too sick to eat them. Towards the end, all she — and I — could stomach was french fries.

Inside the Recipe Box

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My late mom's handwritten, ingredient-stained recipe cards are among my most cherished possessions. Here's why.

The Hungry Mourner

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From funeral biscuits to cemetery picnics to parsley crowns, here's how the world marks death with food.

Sweet Therapy

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Word to the wise: a modern house of mourning requires copious amounts of chocolate. Bake these cookies the next time you need to show your love.

Beyond the Casserole

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Even mourners gotta eat: recipes from around the world — from South African Funeral Rice to Swedish Funeral Glogg.