Celebrating with St. Joseph Altars - (Southern Table) by Sandra Scalise Juneau (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Every year on March 19, Roman Catholic churches and households in and around New Orleans celebrate St. Joseph's Day, part of which involves preparing elaborate tiered displays filled with foods, prayers, and offerings. As the centerpieces of these celebrations, St. Joseph Altars capture a deep-rooted tradition established in south Louisiana by immigrants from Sicily, whose families have been giving thanks to St. Joseph since the Middle Ages. Sandra Scalise Juneau's "Celebrating with St. Joseph Altars" documents the practices of this annual ritual involving recipes, lore, and religious symbolism passed down through multiple generations. While preparations for St. Joseph Altars have adapted over time to local ingredients and tastes, most of the traditional dishes still follow cooking and baking methods that remain relatively unchanged from those practiced over a century ago. Juneau's book traces the history and symbolisms associated with the St. Joseph Altar tradition, from its Sicilian origins to its establishment among Louisiana's celebrations, then later its embrace by multicultural communities across the United States. She also provides a guide for preparing a St. Joseph Altar, complete with lists of a host's duties and a recommended timeline, along with explanations of traditional foods and suggestions for physical set-up and proper placements. Several chapters are devoted to recipes, highlighting savory dishes centered on delectable breads, fish, pasta, and spring vegetables. Steps for preparing and baking pastries receive special attention, with detailed instructions for carving the intricate fig cake designs known as cuccidati. By collecting stories and documenting pieces of cultural heritage, Juneau tells of the faith associated with this sacred tradition so that it can continue for generations to come"--

Book Synopsis

Every year on March 19, Roman Catholic churches and households in and around New Orleans celebrate St. Joseph's Day. As centerpieces of these celebrations, the elaborate tiered displays of foods, prayers, and offerings known as St. Joseph Altars represent a centuries-old tradition established in south Louisiana by immigrants from Sicily.

In Celebrating with St. Joseph Altars, Sandra Scalise Juneau expertly documents the stories, recipes, and religious symbolism of this rich tradition passed down through multiple generations. While the altars have adapted over time to local ingredients and tastes, most of the customary dishes still follow cooking and baking methods that remain relatively unchanged from over a century ago.

Juneau traces the history and symbols associated with the St. Joseph Altar from its Sicilian origins to its establishment among Louisiana's celebrations, then its later embrace by multicultural communities across the United States. She also provides a guide for preparing an altar, complete with recommended timelines and suggestions for physical setup. She offers over sixty carefully selected recipes centered on delectable breads, fish, pasta, and spring vegetables. Pastries receive special attention, with detailed instructions for carving the intricate fig cake designs known as cuccidati.

Celebrating with St. Joseph Altars chronicles a cultural tradition that continues to draw families and communities together in a generous spirit of hospitality.

Review Quotes

Generations of Sicilian heritage have enriched the culture of New Orleans, and Sandra Scalise Juneau's book explains the intricacies of these vital traditions, just as she has taught them in my home and at my restaurant.--Chef Andrea Apuzzo, owner of Andrea's Restaurant, Metairie, Louisiana

Many years ago, I had the privilege of making cuccidati with Sandra Scalise Juneau in her kitchen. The melodic rhythm of her fingers moving across the dough lulled me into a quiet respect of the task at hand. Softly, she prayed, 'Gesù, Maria, Giuseppe. . . .' What a blessed moment I shared with Sandra. It was truly a religious experience.--Chef John D. Folse

No one knows more about St. Joseph Altars than Sandra Scalise Juneau--the history, the religious significance, the cultural importance, and, of course, the food.--Elizabeth C. Williams, cofounder of the Southern Food and Beverage Museum

About the Author

A native New Orleanian of Sicilian heritage, Sandra Scalise Juneau has created cultural exhibits for public display at the Hallmark Card Company in New York, the Louisiana World's Fair, and the Louisiana Folklife Festival. St. Joseph Altars she designed remain on permanent exhibit at the Southern Food and Beverage Museum and the American Italian Cultural Center in New Orleans. She lives in Madisonville, Louisiana.