It's HERE: The Humble Potato Salad Book
A downloadable collection of potato salad stories and recipes from friends
Release Date: May 16, 2025
Potato salad is a story all of us can tell
When I started writing here at Culinary History is Family History, my goal was to share some of my own food stories and memories in hopes of encouraging — maybe even inspiring — others to see culinary history for what it is — family history.
Because I truly believe that’s the reality.
Every tradition, gathering, menu, meal and dish is a link connecting us to who we are and where we come from.
Or at least it can be.
Even something as simple as potato salad, a topic I covered back in February of 2025.
When I wrote that piece, I never imagined the ways it would resonate with others, draw out memories, spark conversations, build connections.
Maybe I should have.
Because potato salad is ubiquitous, if not exactly universal.
It’s simple, adaptable, creative, thrifty, timeless.
Humble.
And because of that, just about everybody has a potato salad story
Woof! Woof! The call goes out
One of my favorite movie scenes of all times is this one from the 1961 version of Disney’s 101 Dalmatians.
So, no surprise, I sent out the Substack equivalent of a Twilight Bark to see if I could gather in some of those potato salad stories.
And folks responded!
Some with stories and recipes. Some with one or the other. A few with commentaries. And loads with snippets of memories and stories still simmering.
Woof! Woof!
Without delay — The Humble Potato Salad Book
I created The Humble Potato Salad Book as a free, sharable and downloadable PDF that can continue to grow as more and more people contribute their family and personal memories, stories and recipes.
IF you have a potato salad story or recipe that you’re working on, have previously published or have just been holding onto and now want to share, please send it to me and I’ll update the PDF and this post to include you.
Feel free to download it, share it, link to it, talk about it, write about it and try all the recipes!
Because that’s why it’s here.
My hope and my goal is this book (and this space) will continue to inspire each of us to think about culinary history — the foods we make and eat, the meals shared, the memories created at picnic tables, formal dinners and everything in between, and the traditions passed down and carried forward — differently.
To see it for what it is: family history.
Full stop.
And to share it and preserve it with joyful abandon.
Check out these great contributors
And finally, a HUGE thanks to these folks for sharing their family and personal memories, stories and recipes and making The Humble Potato Salad Book possible!
Copyright 2025 Lori Olson White
In case you missed it
If stories at the intersection of food and family history are what you’re looking for, look no further than our archives! Here are a few of our favorites.
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Lori, this is beautiful!!! So thoughtful and full of heart. I love the book, the layout, the stories, and the way everything connects. Buckets of gratitude to you for putting this together. I’m excited to try all of these recipes. Thank you for sharing :)
Lori, This is wonderful! I'll definitely try some of these. I never knew of any potato salad except German potato salad until I was grown. I have grown to like the others, but when I have a choice, it's German that I order!