Synonym Magazine, Issue 01: Pantry

We are proud to announce the launch of Synonym Magazine. Through the lens of food, we delve into the intricate interplay of trade, politics, colonialism, and capitalism, examining how these forces have shaped and reshaped our cultures worldwide, influencing both immigrants and the natives of their adopted lands. Our mission is to amplify the voices and stories of immigrants worldwide. We’ll explore all of this in the most intimate ways possible —through generationally shared flavors, the dishes placed on a table, the spices packed in a suitcase.

Issue One’s theme is all about pantry, how so many different cultures have reached for items like canned meat, packaged seasoning, rice and beans, and condiments in order to substitute, add umami, or fuse their culture’s food with that of their new country. We have interviews with the multifaceted Somali writer, chef, and artist Ifrah Ahmed, as well as dip-tastic recipes from Alyse Whitney’s cookbook “Big Dip Energy” utilizing pantry essentials. We explore the historical nuances of classism within canned foods from a socio-economic perspective as well as a personal essay by Betty Hallock about La Choy foods. This issue is filled with beautiful imagery by Yudi Ela Echevarria, Julia Stotz, Andrew Bui, Celeste Noche as well as illustrations and art  by Josh Cochran, Evah Fan, Hiroya Kurata, among others.