In order to truly understand how important the pasty is to the region, it is key to understand the role of the other immigrant groups that also came to the Upper Peninsula. As with the Cornish immigrants, the popularity of mining is what largely attracted these various immigrant groups. According to an article called “Cultural Tracks: Finish Americans in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula”, by Michael M. Loukinen, The Upper Peninsula is unique due to its potential to engage in “mining, forestry, commercial fishing, farming, tourist services, universities, hospitals, and clinics.” Following the Cornish came the Irish, Germans, Finnish, and French Canadiens, among other groups. Granted, the Upper Peninsula is not your typical example of an attractive …show more content…
Liane Hansen, writer of “Pasties: The Meaty Center of ‘Yooper’ Food”, interviewed a certain family that resides in the Upper Peninsula. This family, the Lawry family, of Finnish descent, recalls some of the old traditions and procedures that they experienced throughout their life in regards to the pasty. One of the brothers, Peter Lawry, says, “When we’d made our first couple pasties, we’d go spend the night at Grandma’s house and eat our pasties and show our grandpa how we did” (Hansen). The article examines the family’s upbringing along with how they now own their own family-operated pasty shop. The pasty, like many other storied dishes, is important not only because of its rich flavor and history, but for the memories carried with it. You do not need to have a big, elaborate family memory about the dish to know its important. The article on the Lawry family shows that something simple such as making pasties with your grandparents can go a long way in shaping how you view a certain …show more content…
In regards to my family and our experiences with the pasty, it all starts with my Great Great Grandpa Duncan MacAuley. He was of Scottish descent and immigrant to the Upper Peninsula during the time of the mining rush. He worked as a miner in the Upper Peninsula during this time. In order to get some better research on this topic, I conducted an interview with my Grandmother, Sharon Tomshack. She grew up around the pasty and had an abundance of information regarding the dish. She was often subject to the many stories about mining that her father would tell her family at gatherings and dinners. The quote from my Grandmother that stuck out the most is when she said; “Pasties are important because when a pasty was involved, you knew you were going to be able to see your whole family. Pasties signified unity and togetherness.. But, the taste didn’t hurt!” (Interview). That statement spoke volumes to me because it shows how truly important this dish is. She said that very rarely did her family consume pasties for everyday dinners or meals. Instead, she said that pasties were only served for family get togethers and even family reunions. She remembers making pasties in her current home in Vermilion, Ohio with her Aunt Claire, Aunt Maxine, and her mother. This memory sticks out to her because even though she no longer lived in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, the tradition still lived on. Currently, she