Tony Shalhoub Releases Culinary Memoir of Family Recipes

The Green Bay native shares family stories and 20 kitchen traditions in a new book.

Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Recipes

Gouache-painted editorial illustration showing a rustic bowl of herbs and a measuring spoon on a wooden table, evoking family culinary heritage. — Actor Tony Shalhoub and co-author Josie Adams explore the intersection of food and family heritage in their new memoir, We Thought They'd Never Leave. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Actor Tony Shalhoub has published a new culinary memoir titled We Thought They'd Never Leave. Co-authored with Josie Adams, the book explores the deep connection between food and family gatherings.

Why it matters

The book serves as a documentation of the authors family reunion history, preserving traditions and recipes that have been central to their gatherings for years.

The 262-page memoir retails for $30 and includes 20 original Shalhoub family recipes. It features narratives collected over several years to document the family's annual reunion traditions.

The players

Tony Shalhoub

A Green Bay native and actor who is also a Green Bay Packers season-ticket holder.

Josie Adams

The co-author who collected family recipes and stories over several years to form the book's content.

The details

Tony Shalhoub and Josie Adams collaborated by passing drafts back and forth to compile the personal history and culinary traditions of the family. The memoir is published by Gallery Books and highlights the significance of food within the context of family reunions.

July: The month during which the annual Shalhoub family reunion typically occurs.
October 3, 2026: Tony Shalhoub attended a fundraiser in Menasha.
October 27, 2026: The book was released and the eight-city tour began.
November 9, 2026: The authors scheduled a book event in Ashwaubenon.

Culture Shift

This release follows the trend of celebrities publishing culinary memoirs to provide fans with personal narratives alongside traditional recipes. It reflects a broader shift where public figures use kitchen traditions to offer deeper glimpses into their heritage and family lives.

Readers interested in the memoir can attend the upcoming book event scheduled for November 9 in Ashwaubenon. The book provides a resource for fans looking to replicate the family recipes described in the memoir.

The takeaway

The memoir highlights how family reunions serve as a cornerstone for passing down culinary history through generations. Fans of the actor can use this book as a personal guide to the traditions he has celebrated throughout his life.