Religion & Peace

When I was assigned the challenge to grow our weekly newsletter subscribers, I got stuck, I must admit. What could we offer that felt genuinely valuable? What would make someone click and want to stay? It had to be something that embodied HIU.

How Food Facilitates Interfaith Dialogue

Each year, HIU welcomes a new cohort of international students to live on campus. And I approach them intrigued about what life is like in their home countries. First, for personal interest, and second, because working in communications, I’m constantly looking to harness moving, unique, interfaith stories for our website and social media. 

My conversations with them often naturally turned to food. We would talk about candy flavors that are unique to each other’s regions. How name-brand sodas taste different in the U.S. We laughed about how there are proteins consumed in some parts of the world that aren’t quite as appetizing to others.

One day at a potluck, a student brought a fruity, milky dessert. I love any food that contains dairy products. Just by looking at it, I assumed I knew what it would taste like, but I was surprised by a floral flavor I had never tried before. When I asked what it was, he said it was saffron. And we proceeded to talk about the recipe. That day, I was reminded that there is so much more novelty in life than what I choose to explore. And that one can bond with just anyone when talking about eating, one of the greatest pleasures of life.

Recipes That Bring Stories to Life

Knowing that people love stories, it was clear to me that the gift had to take a narrative approach. And that, if the stories revolved around a subject of interest to them, they would also become interested in our news and interreligious events once they had received it.

Fortunately, our community is home to people brimming with unique stories, and, likewise, with recipes that are not typically found in this region. And it is well known that good recipes, those that stand the test of time, often have a story behind them, frequently evoking fond memories of family and friends. So, the idea surged: an interfaith, intercultural recipe book. 

I reached out to students asking if they’d be willing to share. The response was a heartwarming yes. They were excited to share their cultures. The stories that came back were narratives of love, tradition, and belonging. People wrote of fragrant spices that transported them back to a grandmother’s kitchen, of special meals prepared for holidays, and of the simple act of sharing food with loved ones. 

With this collection of recipes and stories in hand, designing the cover felt symbolic. I gathered images of foods from around the world and knew they needed a common ground, a place of gathering. I layered in the rich, grainy texture of a wooden table.

Then came the most important decision: the name. It had to connect directly to our mission. And so, HIU’s Recipe Book became Interfaith Table.

Why? Because the shared table is where our most essential work begins. At HIU, we believe in bringing diverse people together, especially those with whom we might disagree. Real dialogue, understanding, and friendship happen when we are seated together. This collection embodies that simple, but powerful idea. It starts with our most common ground: a love for food.

Get the cookbook here. 

About Hartford International University

HIU offers degree programs in Interreligious Studies and co-publishes the Journal of Interreligious Studies. Our curriculum balances scholarly analysis and reflection with the practical application of interreligious studies principles and methods, preparing students for careers in chaplaincy, peacebuilding, or community leadership where they will engage directly with people who subscribe to different traditions of belief and practice.