Forkful issue 7: Heirloom
Forkful issue seven concerns heirlooms.
The word ‘heirloom’ has a few meanings. The first, most typical meaning it has is for an object—something inherited or passed on. An heirloom has a significance conferred to it by the possessor or receiver. So, it is not just the object that is relevant, but the intangible too. An heirloom interrogates our memories and our relationships, and relies upon them. A secondary meaning for the word comes from agriculture: ‘heirloom’, as in the ‘heirloom tomato’, refers to a specially-bred plant suited to a particular landscape or climate.
What qualities do these two meanings share? Well, in a way, we think pickiness. There is a sensitivity and rootedness to the word. Think of how an heirloom plant is picky about soil and humidity, so are we about our heirlooms-as-objects. The bowl given to you by your mother isn’t any old dish that can be bought again, or even fixed. Whichever spaghetti served at an Italian restaurant is not going to satisfy if you are set on having your dad’s version, so text him for the recipe.
In this issue, we have addressed this fussiness—inherent in all our appetites—along with the sentimentality of heirlooms. Because, of course, heirlooms are special in their endurance. But heirlooms are also hard to explain to others. They make us particular. We become weary to other people who see our objects or habits as they are without the attendant memories.
The writing in this issue captures in heirlooms what is special and finicky and enduring. We have tried not to glorify the past, or stick glibly to the present—as is the case in a lot of trend-based commercialised writing about food. All this is to pass along tastes, wisdom and habits that are ever-so-slightly larger than ourselves.
CONTRIBUTORS
Mitchell Elkins-Johnston
Mitchell is a New Zealand-based childcare supervisor who enjoys good food, gaming, travelling and spending time with the people he loves. He is a semi-proud owner of 5 cats, though only one of them matters. When he is not cooking, he is eating, because that is how life should be.
Rimini FitzGerald
Rimini is a bookseller and editor living and working in Naarm/Melbourne. She is a copyeditor at Uro Publications and has also coedited Good Sport magazine and Decoding Urban Metrics Melbourne. When she doesn’t have her head in a book, you can find her talking about them at The Paperback Bookshop, Bookshop by Uro or otherwise worshipping Melbourne’s holy trinity: the park, pool and pub.
Eliza Fraser
Eliza is a 21-year-old student from Narrandera (NSW) currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in commerce and global studies at ACU. She gets her love of food and cooking from her family, particularly her dad and his love for all types of cuisines. She is always down to meet up with friends and grab a good meal, especially if that involves exploring the city and stepping into a random restaurant with an enticing menu. As one of 3 sisters, she is definitely the most adventurous one when it comes to exploring her flavour palette.
Jayden Gracias
Jayden is a writer at RMIT. Currently in his second year of the Master of Writing and Editing program, he hopes to continue writing about sports, history and food after graduating. His writing includes essays on films, games, and other works of art and entertainment. He completed his undergraduate degree in history and hopes to one day become a published author who writes across a variety of platforms, mediums and genres.
Julia Hristodoulou
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Tanisha Kaur
Tanisha Kaur is an English major with a crippling addiction to anything fictional. She believes that it has shaped who she is today; someone who sees people as inspiration and finds a tale brewing in every daily interaction.
Gabbi Lobo
Gabbi loves to read a good rant, an impassioned article, or anything that allows her an insight into the mind of the creator, no matter how unhinged. Currently enrolled in the Master of Writing and Publishing at RMIT, she hopes to amplify the voices of others, and share her own stories and reflections. You can find her writing, roller-skating, or cuddling her cats.
Holly McPherson
Holly McPherson is an aspiring editor and a Master of Writing and Publishing student. As a lover of written words but not so much spoken ones, she currently spends her time looking after dogs who are, as far as we know, blissfully incapable of either. In her spare time you’ll find her trawling second-hand bookshops and websites, doing craft projects made for kids, or having a boogie.
Bridget Mahy
Bridget is a writer living in Melbourne.
Benjamin Marchesan
Ben is a writer, comedian and filmmaker based in Naarm. His work mostly focuses around trying to make people laugh in some way or another. He is also incredibly good looking and charming, and wealthy, and he has never been accused or charged with a violent crime.
Eryn Mayfield
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Jazmine J. Perry
Jazmine is a stressed master’s student with an arts degree from Victoria University. She loves history and can be found polishing her ancient Egyptian bronze statues and researching her family tree on Ancestry. Jazmine is also a proud biracial woman who is deeply connected to her community, loves sharing her culture and is chronically online.
Kate Purchase
Kate is an emerging writer and editor from Naarm/Melbourne, currently studying a Graduate Diploma in Writing and Publishing. Kate loves reading in the sun, trying to break her writers block with increasingly silly prompts, and playing footy.
Melissa Taylor
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Nhi Vo
Nhi is a tiny Vietnamese whose biggest dream is to open a library where she can spend all her time reading. Having dappled in the hospitality industry for some time, she is interested to see how the industry would change and innovate in the era of algorithm and robots.
Caitlin Wessner
Caitlin Wessner is an aspiring writer from regional Victoria. She is currently studying Writing and Publishing at RMIT University. When she isn’t writing, Caitlin likes reading and singing opera.
Carmen Williams
Carmen is an emerging Melbourne-based writer and part of Visible Ink’s 2026 editorial team. Her personal work features moody, character-driven narratives and themes of nostalgia, often delving into poetic instances of magical realism. When not writing, Carmen can be found drowning in Indie Folk music and a bottomless cup of earl grey.
