Bom Sal

Abstract

The food memoir Bom Sal focuses on popular Cape Verdean dishes as a way to explore mother and daughter relationships while uncovering the struggle of identity as a Cape Verdean American. The phrase “bom sal” is commonly used in Cape Verdean kitchens to indicate that a dish is seasoned well and has excellent flavor. Salt is also used to preserve food from bacteria and to maintain a proper balance of water and minerals in our bodies. This thesis, the first six chapters of my memoir, aims to introduce the foundation of multi-generational mother-daughter relationships. It follows my struggle to preserve the culture to which I’ve attached my identity while balancing being a black woman in America. The thesis includes recipes for popular Cape Verdean dishes and cooking techniques that allow food to become a means to explore character and the complexity of relationships. The audience for Bom Sal is women navigating who they are and where they come from while unpacking and preserving who they want to be.