The old wooden garlic masher is a traditional kitchen tool found in many homes throughout Honduras and the Dominican Republic, which was used to symbolize the rich culinary heritage and cultural practices of my two countries. In both my cultures, garlic is a staple ingredient used to enhance the flavors of various dishes, reflecting the deep-rooted agricultural traditions and the importance of family meals. But more specifically in my family we have big family dinners with all my whole family every weekend to catch up since we are all very busy. This simple yet essential tool connects generations, it was passed down from my great grandmother to my  grandmother to my mother and soon to me, this object embodies the values of resourcefulness and creativity in using locally sourced materials since it was made out of wood. My family has immigrated from both Honduras and the Dominican Republic and on their journey here they were unable to take any other cooking materials but they were able to bring this one since it was so small and easy to fit anywhere. Since I was younger this garlic smasher has always been a symbol of how far my family has come to achieve this “better life” when they came to the United States, it represents the link that we still have to our home land.  Through this everyday object, the essence of my family's culinary traditions and the experiences of migration intertwine, highlighting the resilience and adaptability of my community.

– anonymous

Relationship:  unknown unknown