Chef Alon Shaya on the Power of Meals and Memories

October 28, 2026

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Episode Description

James Beard Award-winning chef Alon Shaya talks with Zibby Owens about his new book, Memories of a Good Meal: Recipes of Resilience Inspired by Stories of World War II Survival, which he co-wrote with author June Hersh. The book includes recipes and stories from Holocaust survivors and WWII heroes.


Alon discusses the power of food as a learning tool of history and as a source of identity and safety. He also shares memories of his Safta cooking for him and the encouragement he received from a high school teacher, Donna Barnett, to enter the world of cooking. They later started the Shaya Barnett Foundation together to help other high school students.


Learn more about Alon Shaya, his restaurants, and the Shaya Barnett Foundation here and follow him on Instagram at @alonshaya. You can purchase Memories of A Good Meal here.

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A story for the messy middle. Zibby's essay collection Between Chapters is out now!

Love to listen? She narrated the audiobook.

Listen on Spotify here.

Listen on Apple here.


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