A Recipe for Connection

How One Special Book Brought the World Together at RMH-NY 

Inside the coffee table book created by Ronald McDonald House New York caregivers and staff.

If you’ve ever been in a kitchen where delicacies fill the countertop space and multiple hands are chopping, stirring, everyone is laughing, and occasionally a voice will rise above the loud, but ordered chaos shouting “watch out!” as a clanging on the floor suggests someone has lost control of a hot plate, then you know the magic that happens when a group of people come together to make a meal. 

Now imagine that kitchen isn’t just any kitchen, but one inside Ronald McDonald House New York. A kitchen where families from around the world find a place of refuge and a community of new friends while their children undergo life-saving medical treatments at hospitals nearby.

A Ronald McDonald House.New York caregiver makes arepas in our 2nd floor kitchens.

This isn’t just about cooking—it’s about connection. It’s about home. And thanks to Angélica, a member of the team of masterminds behind the enormous success of The Blavatnik Family Foundation Wellness Center and its community support programs, what started as a simple caregiver activity became something much more: a community-driven coffee table book filled with recipes, stories, art, photos of home and memories from RMH-NY caregivers who know all too well what it means to adapt, survive, and to nourish.

The Origins of the Wellness Coffee Table Book Project

The idea for the coffee table book wasn’t born in a strategy meeting or dreamed up by a marketing team. Like the best ideas, it grew organically. Angelica, who seems to have an innate ability to sense what people need before they even say it, noticed something among the caregivers she worked with in the Wellness Center on the 11^th floor of the Ronald McDonald House New York. The caregivers she worked with weren’t just missing home—they were missing the small, everyday rituals that made home actually feel like home.

“So much is lost when they leave home,” Angelica explained. “Part of it is your home country, but so much of it is finding the opportunity to engage in their normal, daily tasks like making meals. Many caregivers just missed feeling like they were useful.  And so, my thought was, why don’t we incorporate all of that so that you feel useful, right? There’s a sense of ‘I want to help the House. I want to feel like a human being who is giving back again.’”

Ronald McDonald House New York’s mission is to "take care of everything, so you can focus on what matters most… your child." But through her work with caregivers—many of whom were far from home and facing long stays—Angelica discovered that some needed the opposite. They longed to contribute, perhaps as a way of expressing gratitude for the care their family had received. Or maybe, they simply wanted to reclaim the feeling of providing for their loved ones, if only for a brief moment.

Coming together and sharing cultural traditions with one another, it turned out, was a way for many caregivers to reclaim that feeling. And thus, the coffee table cookbook project was born.

Featured Recipe: Lamb Machboos

By Ali from Kuwait

Lamb Machboos (also spelled Machbooch) is a traditional Gulf dish, particularly popular in countries like Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar, that is a spiced rice dissimilar to biryani or pilaf, often considered a staple in Middle Eastern countries.

Lamb machboos consists of tender lamb cooked in spices and stewed in a tomato broth served on top of rice that's cooking in the lamb broth. Ali would make this dish for his daughter, Lulu, more than once a week, and so he decided to share it with the House.

Lulu's Mom and Dad made Lamb Machboos, a tradition Kuwaiti dish, at dinner for their little one.

Here is the recipe for Lamb machboos seen here in Ali’s native language, Arabic.

A plated Lamb Machboos dish.

A Kitchen Filled with Caregivers

It started with a core group of eight caregivers who took the lead in the kitchen. Some were seasoned home cooks; others just wanted to help in any way they could. Washing dishes, chopping vegetables, setting up the space—it was all part of the experience. And while the food was the centerpiece, the real magic was in the relationships being built.

“It could be isolating in the House at times,” Angelica said. “As many fun things as we do, sometimes families isolate themselves until you directly approach them with an invitation.”

Inside the pages of the coffee table book you find vibrant caregiver-conceived art.

Especially at the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023, families were just coming out of hiding after the pandemic. People were hesitant to get back out there and engage with the bigger community due to that lingering fear of catching the virus. You add that fear on to being an eight-hour flight away from home, in a brand-new city with a sick child, and it is pretty clear why families might need a little jumpstart to begin engaging with the new world around them. Luckily, Angelica was an expert at engaging even the most nervous families and pulling people out of their shells.

So, she did just that. Angelica papered the walls of the House with flyers, walked up to new families in the House, and invited them to join in making a meal with other families. And the response? Overwhelmingly positive. These family cooking sessions would inspire a collection of recipes, eventually coming together in a cherished coffee table book.

Angelica’s Personal Touch

Caregiver-created art that is now highlighted in the coffee table book.

For Angelica, every project she leads with the families at RMH-NY is deeply personal. Cooking is more than just a task—it’s a way to build community, just as it was in her own childhood.

Growing up in New York City, Angelica remembers how her family would cook for their entire neighborhood, creating a space of warmth and connection in an environment that often felt tough and uncertain. Making tamales was a ritual that required time and many hands. As her family kneaded the masa, others would join in—some for hours, some for just a few minutes—but each person became part of something larger than themselves. “Masa brings people together…,” Angelica says.

She has carried those memories into her work at RMH-NY, adapting them to fit the diverse backgrounds of the families staying in the House. Just as her childhood kitchen became a gathering place for her community, she has created a space where caregivers, after long days at the hospital, can come together and find comfort, connection, and purpose through cooking. The meals they prepare not only nourish their families but also weave together stories and traditions from around the world.

One of those meals was Arepas—a dish cherished in Venezuela and beyond—made by caregivers who, for a brief moment, could bring the flavors of home to RMH-NY.

Meet Daniela: The Arepa Queen

If you were anywhere near the Ronald McDonald House New York 2^nd floor kitchens on a certain Thursday in December 2024, you probably smelled something incredible coming from one of the family’s kitchens—warm, golden arepas, fresh out the pan. Daniela, a mother who was staying at the House with her son at that time, was the genius behind the entire operation, and she was running the kitchen like a seasoned professional.

Daniela fills the arepas. These are the finishing touches before serving.

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Featured Recipe: Arepas

By Daniela from Venezuela

 An arepa is a traditional Venezuelan cornmeal cake, crispy on the outside and soft inside. Made from pre-cooked cornmeal (harina P.A.N.), water, and salt, it's a staple in Venezuelan cuisine, often stuffed with cheese, meats, or avocado.

Daniela’s List of Arepa Ingredients 

4 harina pan   (4 bread flour)

Mantequilla     (Butter)

3kg de carne para despechar    (3kg of meat to slaughter)

2 pechugas de pollo     (2 chicken breasts)

6 aguacates    (6 avocados)

Mayonesa Kraft mayo      (mayonnaise)

2 cebollas moradas    (2 purple onions)

2 cebollas blancas    (2 white onions)

4 ají     (4 chili)

Ajo    (garlic)

Cilantro en rama   (coriander branch)

2 libras de queso amarillo gouda     (2 pounds of yellow gouda cheese)

How to Make the Best Venezuelan Arepas:

1. Mix: In a bowl, combine 2 cups of pre-cooked cornmeal, 2 ½ cups of warm water, and 1 tsp salt. Mix until smooth.

2. Knead: Let the dough rest for 5 minutes, then knead until soft and pliable.

3. Shape: Form small balls and flatten them into discs about ½ inch thick.

4. Cook: On a preheated griddle or pan, cook over medium heat for 5-7 minutes per side until golden brown.

5. Finish: For extra crispiness, bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10 minutes.

6. Fill: Slice open and stuff with cheese, shredded beef, or avocado.

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And the arepas did not disappoint featuring a mouthwatering combination of white/yellow corn flour, chicken, skirt steak, onions, green bell pepper, cilantro, garlic, avocado, mayo, butter, and gouda cheese. Her passion was contagious, and by the end of the day, families were already asking: “Why don’t we do this every year?”

Turns out, Daniela actually was a pro. “This is her business too,” Angelica shared. “She does this for a living.” So, when it came time to make arepas for the group, Daniela didn’t just cook—she commanded the space. “She dished out 80 arepas,” Angelica laughed. “Even Ruth [CEO of RMH-NY] had arepas—everybody had them.”

Fun Facts and Reminders: Many indigenous communities across South America, the Caribbean, and Central America have their own versions of corn-based flatbreads, making Arepas a widespread tradition across at least 10-12 countries globally!

More Than a Meal: A Connection to Culture

For many of these families, cooking isn’t just about food. It’s about tradition, memory, and maintaining a sense of identity in an unfamiliar place. One father in the House, for example, had a Sunday brunch tradition back home that was completely upended when his child’s illness brought them to New York.

“There was a dad in the coffee table book that used to cook brunch for his family every Sunday,” Angelica recalled. “And since they began staying in the House, that was out the window. So, this was the first time that he was able to go back and cook for not only his family but the rest of the families.”

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Sancocho: A Celebration in a Pot

Let’s talk sancocho — the soul-warming stew that’s like a hug from abuela. Across the Caribbean and Latin America, each country adds its own sazón to this flavorful dish.

The name comes from “sancochar” (to parboil), but this isn’t just soup — it’s tradition simmering away. From the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico and Colombia, it’s a celebration of local ingredients.

What’s in it?

• Meat Galore: Beef, pork, chicken — sometimes all three! Big, juicy chunks make it hearty.

• Root Awakening: Yuca, yautía, and sweet potatoes add that earthy goodness.

• Plantain Power: Green for savory, yellow for sweet — why not both?

• Broth Bliss: A golden, meaty elixir, often simmered with veggies and herbs.

• Seasoning Sensations: Sofrito for depth, sazón for color, and adobo for that Latin kick.

Chef’s Tip

Sancocho tastes even better the next day. Serve it with fluffy white rice and enjoy the fiesta in every spoonful. ¡Buen provecho!

Here is the recipe as it is highlighted in the coffee table book:

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As the caregivers spent more time together preparing meals, they naturally began sharing the reasons behind their cooking choices as well as the methods they used to prepare their meals. Caregivers that chose not to cook, could create something artistic that represented their home in the same way that the food prepared by the others did. Angelica had caregivers cooking by day and painting by night. So many caregivers in the House turned up to participate to add their touch of home to the project.

Representing a variety of countries, each caregiver used these cooking sessions as an opportunity to open up to others about their home. As they cooked, they shared the stories of the dishes they created and the personal significance these meals held for them and their families. Each caregiver expressed a deep pride in their homeland and the fear they had upon receiving their child’s diagnosis and learning they would need to travel to the US for treatment.

Sancocho, prepared and ready to eat.

These community cooking sessions and after-hospital painting parties provided a chance for caregivers to connect with others by offering a glimpse into their lives before tragedy struck.

This is what the coffee table book would eventually capture—not just ingredients or even recipes, but authentic stories in many different forms that told the story of people like you and me going through extraordinary hardship far from everything they know and the food or art that brings them joy and brings them home.

The House’s Commitment to International Families

With 40% of the families at Ronald McDonald House New York coming from international backgrounds, the organization has made intentional efforts to create a welcoming, inclusive environment. From offering culturally appropriate food to ensuring services accommodate religious and linguistic needs, the House goes beyond just providing a place to stay.

Art by a caregiver from Peru featured in the coffee table book.

Angelica, who worked with international families in previous careers, understands this deeply. “I’ve worked with this particular community for a very long time. And part of it is really taking into account the traditions and the culture that they bring along with the language barriers that they must navigate.”

That commitment is now reinforced by the hiring of Kenia, the House’s International Social Worker, who is dedicated to helping vulnerable families navigate life in a foreign country while undergoing the most challenging experience of their lives.

Caregiver Theresa uses the RMH-NY kitchens to prepare her favorite meal.

In 2024, 16 different languages were spoken by families in the House on East 73^rd street. The various languages should have acted as a barrier for these caregivers and not allow them to communicate so readily with one another. But that was and is simply not the case at RMH-NY. The difference in languages spoken often serve to help caregivers share, support one another, and build an incredibly tight-knit community based on deeper shared understanding. “We do use translation devices,” Angelica said, “but for the most part, it’s fun getting lost in translation. You build rhetoric by just being silly and making signs or pointing to things.”

The Wellness Center overall plays a huge role in integrating these families into the fabric of the House, offering services tailored to their unique needs. A Japanese family staying at the House was ecstatic to learn that the center offered Reiki, a practice deeply rooted in their culture. “When they heard we had Reiki, they were just over the moon about participating,” Angelica shared.

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Curtido Salvadorian Kraut

Curtido, a Salvadoran condiment resembling sauerkraut, is a lightly fermented  cabbage slaw, typically made with cabbage, carrots, onions, oregano, and sometimes lime juice or vinegar, often seved with pupusas or other dishes.

Fun Facts and Reminders:Salvadorian Sour Kraut, an easy beginner ferment recipe, filling your gut with healthy probiotics. Please note, as with all ferments, just make sure to thoroughly clean all utensils bowls and jars so that only healthy bacteria grows!

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The Coffee Table Book Comes Together

All in all, Angelica held these multi-family cooking sessions from March until May of 2023. She collected all the recipes and the stories told from every session, employed other caregivers to contribute images and original art from the House that would correlate to each specific dish or family and their specific culture to color and fill to the pages of the book. By September, Angelica had created the first printed version of the coffee table book.

Like many projects at Ronald McDonald House New York, it had brought together members of the staff from all departments, many volunteers and, of course, so many vulnerable families from every corner of the world.

The creation of the coffee table book was a huge success in so many ways, but it came specifically at a time to help everyone involved reengage in the world around them after so much time alone.

What’s Next?

The response to the House coffee table book has been overwhelmingly positive, families are already brainstorming future editions, and the excitement is palpable.

“They’re already talking—as we were finishing up this round of arepa making, the families mentioned, ‘Why don’t you do this every year? Why don’t you print a book every year?’” Angelica shared.  One thing is true no matter what: the community coffee table book was a huge hit.

RMH-NY 2nd Floor Kitchen News

In other news surrounding culinary current events, the House is undergoing a renovation to revamp the 2^ndfloor dining room and playroom spaces, bringing a new and exciting first-rate kitchen experience to our families and volunteers.  Now, Angelica’s caregiver cooking meetups can be bigger and better than ever.

 

How You Can Help

The coffee table book is more than a collection of recipes or memories or original art—it’s a testament to resilience, community, and the power of a shared meal to always bring you home. And with the right support, it can continue to grow. If you’d like to see more of these incredible recipes, come to life, consider supporting Ronald McDonald House New York. Whether through donations, volunteering, or spreading the word, you can help ensure that families have opportunities like this—opportunities to connect, heal, and share a taste of home, even in the hardest of times.

After all, as Angelica so beautifully put it: “Masa brings people together because it is a long process. It takes a while—you don’t just make 10, you make 50, right?”

At Ronald McDonald House New York, we commit to our families to always make 50. And then 50 more. And then 50 more. And then…

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Thank you to Angelica, Jillian, Chief Digital Officer Elizabeth Saavedra, and all of the caregivers that made this story possible.

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