Immigrant — The Food Book is the debut project of renowned photographer and devoted food enthusiast JF Ayora. As an immigrant himself, Ayora brings a personal lens to Washington, D.C.’s culinary landscape—a city whose role as the nation’s capital draws people, traditions, and flavors from all over the world.

This project explores how the city’s chefs—immigrants or children of immigrants—carry the food of their ancestors into their kitchens, their communities, and their creative work. It highlights how living and cooking in such a diverse city shapes their craft in return, creating a dynamic conversation between heritage and place.

Each chef featured in Immigrant shares three recipes:

• One that reflects how their cuisine influences the local community,
• One that shows how Washington, D.C. has influenced them,
• And one personal favorite—something they love to cook at home and share with friends and family.

Ultimately, Immigrant — The Food Book celebrates the power of food to bring us together. It is a journey through culture, memory, and flavor—showing how every recipe tells a story, and how the culinary world is always evolving, always intertwined, and always richer when shared.