In the summer of 2022, we brought Radical Roots to its first instalment at AZC Amsterdam, with the aim of sharing the pleasure and medicine of food, of being together, and of taking risks in communication to lay the foundations of a new sense of home. Over a period of five weeks, we built relationships, exchanged stories, and prepared food with our guest chef-artists.

The first two sessions were with Anna Celda, who brought her mortar and pestle. Gathering around this primordial culinary tool with a variety of ingredients, AZC residents created their own dips and spreads, contributing personal recipes. The small greenhouse in the garden of AZC Amsterdam became our ground for connection.

Our third session was with Elena Braida, who shared the recipe of Nonna Laura’s gnocchi. That week many of the children from the AZC joined us, helping to prepare the gnocchi from scratch. Elena also spoke about her experiences of collecting recipes during her travels.

The fourth session was led by Jules Davis-Dufayard, who introduced us to buckwheat galettes, a beloved dish from their home region of Bretagne. By our fourth week, we had already formed a circle of regular participants from the AZC, who helped set up our portable kitchen and stayed through the whole session, fully immersed in the process.

For our fifth and final session, we were joined by Mariana Martinez Balvanera and Jorge Durán Solorzano from Gran Colectivo Pantitlán. They brought a tortilla press, a portable printing station, and stories of corn as an ancestral guide. While preparing tortillas with delicious toppings, we also completed our collaborative printed publication made with the residents. This closing session marked the end of our first Radical Roots instalment at AZC Amsterdam. It was a deeply touching farewell after five weeks of growing closeness and shared experience.