Saturday, June 7, 2025

12:00pm - 3:00pm

Join Save Ellis Island for a unique culinary event featuring Tom Bernardin, author of The Ellis Island Immigrant Cookbook, in which he will present his key lecture, Ellis Island-The Golden Door. After the talk, guests will have the opportunity to sample dishes made from recipes featured in the cookbook and will receive a copy of The Ellis Island Immigrant Cookbook to continue their culinary experience at home. Also included is an exclusive tour of the abandoned hospital complex on the south side of Ellis Island, where many immigrants were treated upon arrival. Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind event where food, history, and heritage come together.

Tom Bernardin is a licensed New York City tour guide and a fifty-three-year resident of Manhattan, originally hailing from Lawrence, Massachusetts, known as Immigrant City. His association with Ellis Island began in 1978 as a National Park Service ranger, giving tours of pre-restoration Ellis Island for three seasons.

His slide-lecture presentation, Ellis Island-The Golden Door led to the publication of his book, The Ellis Island Immigrant Cookbook. In addition to this work, Tom has spent much of his life teaching English as a Second Language to America’s more recent immigrants. When he isn't lecturing, one can find Bernardin working on many historic preservation projects, including his not-for-profit organization Save America's Clocks (www.clocks.org), dedicated to locating, inventorying, and assisting in the preservation of America's public clocks.

The ticket price includes the purchase of guests’ ferry ticket, cookbook, and the tour. All attendees will receive their ferry ticket and arrival instructions prior to the event.

Questions? Please contact Irene Mone - imone@saveellisisland.org or call 201-332-8485 x4