Feb 1st is the FIRST DAY of BLACK HISTORY MONTH and the birthday of ancestral Literary Legend, Langston Hughes’ !…
By: Tonya Hopkins aka The Food Griot: “Sharing Savory Stories on the Makings of America’s Cuisines”…
I love that the first day of Black History Month is also Langston Hughes’ Birthday (b. Feb 1st 1901 or 1902). He’s one of our nation’s most prolific professional poets and a major player in the Harlem Renaissance. I also love how he ‘matter of factly’ factors in the language of food and drink (and all it’s layered meanings, entendres, analogies, metaphors and so on…) into so much of his writing — whether it be published works or professional and personal correspondence.
The hospitality industry employed a very young and brilliant Langston, where he was actually first ‘discovered’ by a literary & publishing influencer while working as a busboy in a Washington D.C. hotel restaurant …It’s no #newsflash by now that he’s the inspiration behind the name of Bus Boys & Poets cafe in our nation’s capital (@busboysandpoets)
It so happens there are several prominent Black folks (past and present) birthdays throughout the entire month of February! So get ready to raise a bunch of glasses and check back to see who’s up next!
My take on Langston Hughe’s “Hard Daddy” cocktail (named after one of his ‘blues’) as so christened by him and a few new friends at a party in 1926 .This is one of the featured cocktails in my TFG COCKTAIL COLLECTION of “ancestrally inspired, historically-informed, culturally rooted” drinks honoring a range of historic icons for Black History Month and always …
For now though:
Happy Heavenly Birthday Mr. Hughes! 🎂🍰🧁🥂🍾🎈
and Happy Black History Month Erribody Else!
Time for a little TFG TIME TRAVEL :
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This time last year "Chasing Flavor With Carla Hall"& Friends: Series Premiered February 1st 2024 On Max!…
And we were telling folks to mark their calendars for to immerse themselves in the enchanting world of "Chasing Flavor with Carla Hall" that started streaming on MAX on Feb 1st 2024j:
Join Chef Carla Hall, acclaimed chef and arguably America’s fave food TV personality — as she globe trots to uncover the various roots of many iconic American dishes on a delectable journey in her new show called "Chasing Flavor!
There are about 6 episodes total (maybe more!)… YUP, yours truly shows up in one (ok, TWO! ;) of ‘em... Nope I won’t tell you which ones so just plan to binge watch ‘em all — and get ready for a bunch of multi-sensory treats you’ll immensely enjoy!
Carla's effervescent energy and genuine passion for the foods and the people she encounters combine to create a captivating experience that transcends the screen! With her signature authentic warmth, wit and enthusiasm, she invites viewers to share in the joy of cookery and savoring meals with friends new and old from all over (literally!).
The series delivers deliciousness as each episode also digs into surprisingly diverse origins of some of our favorite dishes, complete with core-warming stories, surprising facts and mouthwatering bits and bites to tantalize your taste buds and nourish your head, heart and soul.
From discovering hidden culinary gems to uncovering the cultural significance behind each dish, "Chasing Flavor" is an enlightening and inspiring odyssey for food enthusiasts, curious culinarians as well as appreciators of history and culture. Prepare to be captivated by Carla's wonderful warmth and unwavering commitment to celebrating the rich tapestry of flavors that define our world. A must-watch for anyone seeking to indulge in the bountiful beauty and power of food to unite us all.
Well this prompt is still as relevant as ever considering that from my observation and analysis, HBO/Max or whoever did the absolute bare bones minimum on the promotion front for Carla’s show. IMHO. Made even more disappointing once I noticed that then (the entirety of 2024) and still now (into 2025) they apparently chose to more heavily promote an outdated snarky cartoon about a wayward White guy in his mid 20’s(“The Life & Times of Tim.” 2008-2012) — an adult animated “sitcom” where the main reoccurring Black character is a cartoon version of an aging Black woman PROSTITUTE / “hooker” named “Debbie” — voice acted by two different real life WHITE MEN. And apparently I am the only person on the planet to figure out that last part on my own accord and find it disturbing instead of “brilliant” and “ahead of it’s time” like the rest of the internet. Clearly I digressed, nonetheless:
Experience an Exhilarating, Expansive Culinary Journey with Carla Hall: #ChasingFlavor streaming on Max.
Chasing Flavor with Carla Hall | Official Trailer | Max