Forget the history books and tourist guides attempting to tell the story of the Watch City's industrial and cultural past.
Publisher Dan Yaeger wants to tell the tale of Waltham through a citywide collection of delicious meals and recipes from local restaurants and at-home chefs.
Due out next fall, "Local Flavor: Waltham" is intended to chronicle "the history of Waltham through its stomach," said Yaeger.
Yaeger lives in Swampscott, but is no stranger to the diverse ethnic cuisine that has become a staple of the city.
As he balances the roles of executive director at the Charles River Museum of Industry and works as a consultant to the Waltham Tourism Council, Yaeger spends most of his weekdays promoting all the city has to offer.
"One of the things we have been doing in general is promoting the restaurant scene," said Yaeger of his work on the tourism council.
With that mission in mind, combined with the success of the international food and wine festival hosted by the museum each year, "it just sort of merged in my head that it would be great for the community," said Yaeger. "It would show off all of the variety of cooking that has been in the past, the present and the future."
He is hoping to collect hundreds of recipes, and the stories behind them, from businesses and individuals by May 30, he said.
"The idea is to hopefully make this a community-wide effort. The more recipes we get, the better the book will do," he said.
Home to America's first factory, Waltham has been a destination and draw for immigrants throughout its history. This unique claim to fame, said Yaeger, has resulted in some of the most authentic ethnic restaurants and home-cooked meals in a small area.
Yaeger also intends to help Waltham's nonprofit organizations. Once the cookbooks are released, groups and organizations can purchase them at bulk rates and sell them at retail prices.
By helping to promote the city's dining and cultural atmosphere while offering a means for nonprofits to generate revenue, Yaeger is also hoping many at-home chefs will submit their traditional and time-honored recipes.
"I really want all the home chefs out there to contribute," said Yaeger. "I'm really encouraging young people ... to ask their parents and grandparents about their own traditions. I'm hoping to get a good cross-section of recipes."
Offering up one of her family's recipes is councilor at-large and owner of The Tea Leaf Serafina "Sally" Collura.
Served at her tea shop is her mother's recipe for tuna salad.
"(Customers) keep asking me what is in this because it's so good," she said. "I'm going to share my secret recipe, so it won't be a secret anymore."
Collura also is going to publish her trademark cream cheese recipe, which is also used in her cream cheese and cucumber tea sandwiches at the shop.
"When I was growing up, it was primarily Italian, Irish and French," said Collura. "Now we have wonderful Indian food, Mexican, Guatemalan. I would love for people to share those recipes from their restaurants."
Since formulating the idea for "Local Flavor: Waltham," Yaeger has also asked Mayor Jeannette A. McCarthy and several city councilors for their support and secret recipes.
The Chateau, a Waltham staple for decades, has also pledged a recipe or two, said President Joe Nocera.
Although he is not sure what signature dish will be made available for everyone, Nocera said the decision to get involved was simple - good food and good people is what his restaurant is all about.
For more information about the project, or to submit a recipe of your own, visit www.walthamcookbook.org or call Dan Yaeger at 781-595-4510.
Kerri Roche can be reached at kroche@cnc.com or 781-398-8009.
