2014 James Beard Foundation Book Award, Reference and
Scholarship
Honor Book for Nonfiction, Black Caucus of the American Library
Association
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 twenty-two recipes.