Gabriele Galimberti, an Italian photographer, embarked on a trip around the world, but before he left, his Tuscan grandmother, Marisa, prepared his favorite ravioli with great care and love. This led Gabriele to seek out grandmothers and their signature dishes in the sixty countries he visited. He met about 100 grandmothers, cooked with them, learned their best recipes, and documented the experience through photography.

The resulting book, "In Her Kitchen," was published in 2014 and it features stunning portraits of women from all over the world with their signature dishes. The series pays homage to all grandmothers and their love for good cooking, illustrating the international language of food and family. An easy-to-follow recipe and an image of the final dish accompany each portrait in the book. “In Her Kitchen” showcases the care and pride that grandmothers put into their cooking, making it clear that good food is not just about taste, but also about the love and tradition behind it.

If you would like to see more photography work by Gabriele Galimberti, you can click here, and see Bored Panda's post about his “Toy Stories” series.

More info: gabrielegalimberti.com | Instagram | Facebook

#1 Bisrat, 60, Ethiopia: Enjera With Curry And Vegetables

Image credits: Gabriele Galimberti

Bored Panda has reached out to Gabriele Galimberti, the author of the series, to find out more about it. First, we asked if the photographer noticed any commonalities among the grandmothers he met, in terms of their cooking style or approach to food. He told us: “No common ground for the approach to food or the way of cooking, each grandmother has her own style and secrets. The one thing that really connects them all is the love they use to nourish their grandchildren. That may be the true common ingredient of all of these recipes.”

#2 Regina, 53, Malawi: Finkubala (Caterpillar In Tomato Sauce)

Image credits: Gabriele Galimberti

#3 Marisa, 80, Italy: Swiss Chard And Ricotta Ravioli With Meat Sauce

Image credits: Gabriele Galimberti

We wanted to know if Gabriele had any preconceptions or stereotypes about certain cultures or cuisines before he started the project. Also, we asked if his experiences challenged or reinforced these assumptions. The photographer answered: “Honestly, when I went on my world tour (2010-2012), I admit that I knew nothing about most of the countries I was in. I had purposely chosen not to study a lot, not to inform myself, in order to have the possibility to study as much as possible in every place.”

#4 Julia, 71, Bolivia: Queso Humacha (Vegetables And Fresh Cheese Soup)

Image credits: Gabriele Galimberti

#5 Miraji, 56, Zanzibar: Wali, Mchuzina Mbogamboga (Rice, Fish And Vegetables In Green Mango Sauce)

Image credits: Gabriele Galimberti

Asked about the role he sees food and cooking play in building bridges between different cultures and promoting understanding and empathy, Galimberti answered: “Food is a fundamental element for encouraging people and cultures. In almost every country and culture in the world, many of the social and bonding moments take place around a table set with food. And almost every person in the world, when traveling to new places, has among his priorities to taste new tastes, foods never tasted before, to approach people through those moments of sociality that develop around a dinner or lunch.”

#6 Serette, 63, Haiti: Lambi In Creole Sauce

Image credits: Gabriele Galimberti

#7 Wadad, 66, Lebanon: Mjadara (Rice And Lentils Cream)

Image credits: Gabriele Galimberti

Next, we wanted to know if the photographer recalls any specific dish recipe that he found particularly challenging to prepare. Gabriele said: “For me, who was not a cooking expert at that time, every recipe was difficult to prepare... but for these grandmothers, everything seemed simple and natural. I do, however, remember a pair of recipes that were difficult to eat (simply because they were away from my tastes): iguana in the Cayman Islands, and bugs in Malawi.”

#8 Normita, 65, Kenya: Mboga And Orgali (White Corn Polenta With Vegetables And Goat)

Image credits: Gabriele Galimberti

#9 Flatar, 52, Zimbabwe: Sadza (White Maize Flour And Pumpkin Leaves Cooked In Peanut Butter)

Image credits: Gabriele Galimberti

Lastly, we asked about the most memorable encounter Galimberti had during his travels while working on the “In Her Kitchen” series. The photographer told us: “Coming home to my grandmother after two years of traveling with some strange foods and ingredients unknown to her and trying to convince her to try them. It was a little like pushing her to do a piece of my journey of the world but without moving from her kitchen.... it was a lot of fun and exciting.”

#10 Pan Guang, 62, China: Hui Guo Rou (Twice-Cooked Pork With Vegetables)

Image credits: Gabriele Galimberti

#11 Fifi, 62, Egypt: Kuoshry (Pasta, Rice And Legumes Pie)

Image credits: Gabriele Galimberti

#12 Natalie, 60, Georgia: Khinkali (Pork And Beef Dumplings)

Image credits: Gabriele Galimberti

#13 Fatma, 58, Morocco: Bat Bot (Berber Bread Baked In A Pan)

Image credits: Gabriele Galimberti

#14 Inara, 68, Latvia: Siļķe Krējumā (Herring With Potatoes And Cottage Cheese)

Image credits: Gabriele Galimberti

#15 Grace, 82, India: Chicken Vindaloo

Image credits: Gabriele Galimberti

#16 Boonlom, 69, Thailand: Kai Yat Sai (Stuffed Omelette)

Image credits: Gabriele Galimberti

#17 Valgerður, 63, Iceland: Kjotsùpa (Lamb And Vegetables Soup)

Image credits: Gabriele Galimberti

#18 Ayten, 76, Turkey: Karniyarik (Stuffed Aubergines With Meat And Vegetables)

Image credits: Gabriele Galimberti

#19 Jenya, 58, Armenia: Tolma (Roll Of Beef And Rice Wrapped Into Grape Leaves)

Image credits: Gabriele Galimberti

#20 Brigitta, 70, Sweden: Inkokt Lax (Poached Cold Salmon And Vegetables)

Image credits: Gabriele Galimberti

#21 Synnove, 77, Norway: Kjottsuppe (Icelandic Bull Meat And Vegetables Soup)

Image credits: Gabriele Galimberti

#22 Carmen, 70, Philippines: Kinunot (Shark In Coconut Soup)

Image credits: Gabriele Galimberti

#23 Maria, 53, Cayman Islands: Honduran Iguana With Rice And Beans

Image credits: Gabriele Galimberti

#24 Carmina, 73, Spain: Asadura De Cordero Lecca Con Arroz (Milk-Fed Lamb Offal With Rice)

Image credits: Gabriele Galimberti

#25 Isolina, 83, Argentina: Asado Criollo (Mixed Meats Barbecue)

Image credits: Gabriele Galimberti

#26 Cathy, 64, Canada: Bison Under The Midnight Sun

Image credits: Gabriele Galimberti