Minnesota History Magazine Winter 2025–26 (69.8)

Articles

A Kitchen and Dining Room of Their Own: Women, Food, and Architecture in 19th-Century Minnesota
Arielle Fields

Throughout the 19th century, food—its storage, preparation, and consumption—fundamentally changed domestic architecture in Minnesota, and women had a pivotal role in this change. By looking at the way food changes space, we can gain a better understanding of how women related to space. MNHS Gale Scholar Arielle Fields gives us a window into the ways in which women played an integral role in changing food and architecture in the 19th century. 

Honoring Family Histories, Creating a Legacy: The Hmong Food Movement in Minnesota
Chantel Rodríguez 

The Hmong food movement celebrates and champions Hmong culture, food, history, and generational wealth building. It may have gained visibility in the last decade, but it has been in motion since Hmong refugees began arriving in Minnesota in 1975. Dr. Chantel Rodríguez weaves the story of Zongxee Lee, Pakou Hang, and Yia Vang, just a few of the individuals taking part in a movement that seeks to honor family histories, preserve cultural heritage, and tell Hmong stories through food. 

Ironclad Cuisine
Text by MNHS staff and Crystal Schlueter; Recipes by Crystal Schlueter

Far from ancestral homelands, various mining ethnic groups in the Iron Range first hailed mostly from Scandinavia, Finland, Slovenia, Canada, England, and Germany. After 1900, many came from southern and eastern Europe. Slovenian and Croatian families nurtured their heritage, forging the Iron Range into a place where South Slavic roots still run as deep as a mine shaft. Not surprisingly, they brought with them an array of unique cultural traditions, religions, and recipes. Among the local cuisine are staples such as potica (a swirl bread that is commonly filled with honey and walnuts), sarme (cabbage rolls stuffed with ground meat and rice), and žganci (a coarse porridge made of cornmeal or buckwheat).

Departments

Editor’s Note
Pam McClanahan

Curator’s Choice
Catherine Cooney
An early Minnesota cookbook

EyeWitness
George Slade
Pearl Plugs Pillsbury

LandMark
Ginny Way
Zinsmaster Baking Company Building, Hennepin County

Book Review
Kimmy Tanaka
Kitchens of Hope: Immigrants Share Stories of Resilience and Recipes from Home by Linda S. Svitak and Christin Jaye Eaton, with Lee Svitak Dean.

Take Three / News & Notes

Highlighting MNopedia
Michael J. Lansing
Wheaties

Preserving, Sharing, Connecting
Ken Rothchild: Value-Driven Leadership