The Atlas Obscura Podcast 12 Days of Wonder: Return to Recipe Graves
Dec 10, 2025
Sam O'Brien, Senior Editor at Gastro Obscura, dives into the fascinating world of recipe gravestones and the unique ways food connects us to those we’ve lost. She shares the story of Bonnie Johnson’s Cool Whip recipe etched in stone and explores how such culinary memories can provide comfort during grief. O'Brien also discusses a culinary therapy program that helps widows rediscover joy through cooking, showcasing the powerful role of food in honoring memories and celebrating life.
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Nome’s Cool Whip Cookie Grave
- Sam O'Brien discovered at least 18 recipe gravestones worldwide, including a Nome, Alaska obelisk with a no-bake chocolate oatmeal cookie recipe.
- The Nome gravestone even features an engraved Cool Whip container because Bonnie served the cookies in those tubs.
A Life Etched In Symbols
- Bonnie Johnson moved to Alaska in 1957, became a flight attendant, raised four kids, and loved beach walks and her signature cookies.
- Her obelisk shows the recipe, a Cool Whip tub, beach glass, and a plane to capture many parts of her life.
Food As A Memory Trigger
- Food and kitchen smells trigger deep, personal memories tied to childhood and family rituals.
- These sensory links make recipes powerful tools for remembering the dead and accessing grief.