At Synonym,
we are telling immigrant stories
through food.
As strangers in a new land, a taste of home can provide comfort and familiarity. Bringing those tastes together with the food at hand creates new traditions, a new heritage.
We spotlight these stories and share how trade, politics, colonialism, and capitalism have changed food cultures around the world, for immigrants and countries’ natives alike. We explore all of this in the most intimate ways possible —through generationally shared flavors, the dishes placed on a table, the spices packed in a suitcase.
Synonym initially began as an idea to share recipes shaped by location and movement, specifically through the global immigrant diaspora and third culture population. But we quickly realized that through the practices of cooking and sharing food there are so many inspiring and critical stories that go unheard, so we set out to find and amplify them; acknowledging these experiences and creating a space for them to be discovered.
We vigorously seek out and commission BIPOC writers and contributors, paired with a celebration of everything visual — be it photography, fine art and illustration, and the design itself. We are now receiving submissions from all over the world, and it is our privilege to connect with our subjects and their vision, to be a part of and nurture a growing sense of community and connection with each other, to wholeheartedly stand in opposition to those that wish to divide and invoke fear in the diaspora and all of the wonder it contains.
Each issue is offset-printed in full color on thick, uncoated paper and spiral bound — meant to not only shine on your coffee table at home, but also stand up in the kitchen while you try out an inspiring new recipe.
Our Team
Founder & Editor in Chief
Caroline Hwang
Editors
Lisa Butterworth & Tien Nguyen
Visuals Director
Nidia Cueva
Research Editor
Jessica Darakjian
Associate Editor & Copy Editor
Leah Zibulsky
Design Director
Joel Speasmaker
Support Us
We are a completely independent, self-funded magazine and could use your support. Our editorial board are volunteer-based and all of our profits go right back into making the magazine. Our goal is to become sustainable and better serve our community!
Fiscally sponsored by
a 501(c)(3) charitable organization