Soul food
Subtitle: the surprising story of an American cuisine, one plate at a time
By: Adrian Miller
Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press
Published: 2013
Language: eng
Number of pages: 332
ISBN-13: 9781469607627
Subjects: African American cooking; Southern style; American Cooking; History
Description: In this insightful and eclectic history, Adrian Miller delves into the influences, ingredients, and innovations that make up the soul food tradition. Focusing each chapter on the culinary and social history of one dish--such as fried chicken, chitlins, yams, greens, and "red drinks"--Miller uncovers how it got on the soul food plate and what it means for African American culture and identity. Miller argues that the story is more complex and surprising than commonly thought. Four centuries in the making, and fusing European, Native American, and West African cuisines, soul food--in all its fried, pork-infused, and sugary glory--is but one aspect of African American culinary heritage. Miller discusses how soul food has become incorporated into American culture and explores its connections to identity politics, bad health raps, and healthier alternatives. This refreshing look at one of America's most celebrated, mythologized, and maligned cuisines is enriched by spirited sidebars, photographs, and 22 recipes.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 285-310) and index.
Table of contents: title: What is soul food?; title: West Africa: the culinary source; title: From southern to soul; title: Fried chicken and the integration of church and plate; title: Catfish and other double swimmers; title: Chitlins: a love story; title: Black-eyed peas: what's luck got to do it?; title: How did macaroni and cheese get so black?; title: Sometimes I feel like motherless greens; title: Candied yams: West African in name, but not in taste; title: Cornbread: drop it like it's hot bread!; title: Hot sauce: the best medicine ever?; title: What's sweet, red, and drunk from a jelly jar? hint: liquid soul!; title: Give me some sugar: the glory of soul food desserts; title: Whither soul food?