It's a truth we rarely reflect on, and even more rarely appreciate - but we should. Think about it. How much of our identities, our attachment to our own cultures and our connection with others come through the things we like to eat? Then there's the question of power, which in terms of food covers everything from who gets to eat, to which foods are considered cuisine. And America's erasure of Black people from its food history, like its history of home, is no small factor in upholding our exclusion from its fundamental sense of self. And of course. there's the money…
Read MoreCelebrating Kwanzaa matches my “more is more” holiday mindset: more opportunities to connect with family and friends, more chances to discover diaspora dishes, and more reasons to innovate with interesting ingredients. From December 26 to January 1, each day is anchored in one of the holiday’s seven principles (unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith), offering meaningful ways to sustain seasonal vibes for a full week.
Read MoreWilliams, better known as Chef Stikxz, the second part of which is a name conferred unto her during her childhood because of her small stick-like frame, is doubling down on a holiday tradition inherited from her Jamaican-born parents. She does so while preparing two meals, directing kitchen colleagues and answering questions from a witty journalist.
Read MoreEatOkra, an app named for this food staple, connects 500,000 foodies to chefs, culinary creators and restaurants. Anthony and Janique Edwards, the creators of EatOkra, have set out to develop a Black-owned food ecosystem. Hopkins, known as “The Food Griot” on social media, co-founded the James Hemings Society, an organization named after Thomas Jefferson's enslaved chef who became the first American to train as a chef in France.
Her work as a culinary history consultant sheds light on the timeless Black culinary talents
Read MoreIt’s high time people know about Chef James Hemings (1765-1801), the talented, enslaved chef owned by Thomas Jefferson. Hemings’ enduring impact on popular American eats and the development of high-end cookery and restaurant dining in this country has been all but eclipsed by Jefferson’s prominence.
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