Slovak American Touches: Family Recipes, History, Folk Arts [Paperback]

Toni Brendel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 16, 2008 | ISBN-10: 1932043497 | ISBN-13: 978-1932043495 | Edition: First Edition

This 192 page book has history, recipes, and folk arts. A goodly number of Slovak folk dancers in kroj authentic to the Slovak Republic are shown in full color in the 24 page color section of the 6x9 book. Included in the contents are: historic Slovak timeline, famous Slovaks, kroje folk attire, folk artists, museums, libraries, decorative eggs, special Slovak American events, pottery, heritage, Czech and Slovak queens, folk dancers, musicians, bobbin lace, fraternals, Pennsylvania Cathedral of Learning, Slovak wedding traditions, holiday traditions, and Slovak recipes. The recipes are those of Brendel family favorites.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Slovak American Touches by Toni Brendel
$18.95 6x9-inch format 192 pages including 24 in full color
Our newest release ISBN: 1-932043-49-7

I thumbed through Slovak Touches. Congratulations, you did a fine job and my compliments to Toni Brendel. It is so nice to see something like this for the Slovaks - it was so needed. You have such a nice way of combining all kinds of information and homey touches and factual information into an appealing book. Bravo!

Best regards, Gail

Gail Naughton
President/CEO
National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library
30 16th Avenue SW
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
319-362-8500
fax [phone]
--Gail Naughton, President/CEO, National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library

I purchased your book this weekend, Slovak American Touches, and feel that it is one of the best Slovak books I have seen. It is wonderfully written with fabulous recipes. I would like to inquire about purchasing copies of the book for resale as a fundraiser. --Michele Mager, Lucina Slovak Folk Ensemble, Cleveland

The time and effort you put into your book certainly shows your dedication to the Slovak people in America. The colored pictures are breathtaking and I am happy that the extra energy was put forth in these kind of pictures.
My maternal grandparents are from Soma in Sarys County and Kamjunka in Spis County. I have tried to preserve my heritage by the customs and traditions of the Rusyn people, which is very important for young people. Your book will guide today's Slovak youth to want to keep their customs and traditions alive as well. --Laurel A. Tombazzi, Director Karpato-Rus'' Ensemble, Hinckley Twp, Ohio

About the Author

Toni Brendel has spent a lifetime exploring her roots and this book reflects a Slovak family history symbolic of many of the immigrants who came from Eastern Europe. As a founding member and former President of the Phillips Wisconsin Czechoslovakian Community Festival, Toni has served as a chair or co-chair of the festival for 23 of its 25 years. She co-produced the first two volumes of the Phillips Czechoslovakian Community History and is currently working on the 25th anniversary volume. Toni authored the brochure, Lidice Shall Live in Phillips, Wisconsin, which is widely circulated. She is the writer of numerous articles in the Wisconsin Slovak magazine. Toni Brendel has served as the State Director of the Miss Czech-Slovak Wisconsin Queen Pageant held annually in Phillips for 10 years and is a member of the board of directors for the Miss Czech-Slovak US Queen Pageant held in Wilber, Nebraska, each August. She has served as a judge for the Minnesota Miss Czech-Slovak State Pageant on several occasions. She holds memberships in the Wisconsin Slovak Historical Society, Price County Historical Society, Czechoslovak Genealogical Society International,Western Fraternal Life Association (Phillips Lodge #236,) Slovak Heritage and Folklore Society International, SVU (Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences), and the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library. Toni's contributions to her community go far beyond her Slovak roots. In 2002, she was named Phillips Citizen of the Year and was the first woman to serve on the Board of Directors of the Phillips Area Chamber of Commerce. She is currently the proprietress of the Phillips High School Alumni Tourist House. As a mother of five, grandmother of six, she continues to be active in church, school, and civic affairs.
-Jacque Gharib, editor

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Penfield Books; First Edition edition (May 16, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932043497
• ISBN-13: 978-1932043495
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #981,603 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great collection of Slovak immigrant stories, traditions, and recipes, February 23, 2011

By 

lubos (Falls Church, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Slovak American Touches: Family Recipes, History, Folk Arts (Paperback)

Ms. Toni Brendel is a third-generation Slovak American who set upon a journey to rediscover the homeland of her grandmother. This book is a collection of the findings she found along the way.

I am a native Slovak living in the United States. I've had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Brendel at a Slovak festival where she was signing her book. I really appreciate there are people like her out there who show real love for their adopted homeland and go the extra mile to learn about the Slovak way of life.

This book really consists of two halves. The first part is a collection of short articles on topics varying from Slovak crafts and outfits, through traditions and weddings, to Slovak-American clubs in the United States. A definite highlight here is the story of how the author's grandparents emigrated and settled in the US.

The second part consists mainly of Slovak recipes. Some of the recipes have been adapted to American cuisine, but this collection does contain a good number of real, authentic Slovak dishes. Among the recipes you'll find background notes on topics such as the origin of the word kolache (Slovak or Czech sweet treats) and the home-made goose-feather oil basters that were popular in Slovakia (my grandma still uses and makes these).

This is definitely an indispensable book for anyone whose parents or grandparents immigrated from Slovakia and who wants to find out more about the land of his or her ancestors.