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morgs777's review
5.0
Loved this coffee table esque but still a deep dive into modern Black culture and food. Interspersed with recipes, poetry, spirituality, and essays, I’d highly recommend.
kailawil's review
4.0
I won this in a giveaway.
This book is so cool. More than a cookbook, it weaves history and stories in with recipes and art. Great photos.
This book is so cool. More than a cookbook, it weaves history and stories in with recipes and art. Great photos.
acejolras's review against another edition
emotional
informative
medium-paced
2.0
I struggled in how to rate this given it is a cookbook (though one with a substantial number of essays) and not aimed at me as a white woman. I’m sure a lot of this material is really powerful for Black readers and chefs. That being said, I have to rate it based on my enjoyment.
I found most of the essays to be written at a graduate level and while I agreed with the ideas presented, a lot of them felt very…vague? There was a big theme of “doing the work” in community and for self but rarely was it established what this work actually was in practical terms. The self-care questionnaire was by far the most actionable advice presented. I felt this way about the queer chapter as well - part of that was applicable to me and I still felt like it was very wushu-washy.
The recipes really ranged in skill level, from simple biscuits to literal Top Chef caliber. It might be the point that many are long and complicated (so many dirty dishes!) since a big point of the book is healing through food, but if a lot of the ingredients felt inaccessible to me as an upper middle class person, I imagine it would be even more difficult for many other people.
I found most of the essays to be written at a graduate level and while I agreed with the ideas presented, a lot of them felt very…vague? There was a big theme of “doing the work” in community and for self but rarely was it established what this work actually was in practical terms. The self-care questionnaire was by far the most actionable advice presented. I felt this way about the queer chapter as well - part of that was applicable to me and I still felt like it was very wushu-washy.
The recipes really ranged in skill level, from simple biscuits to literal Top Chef caliber. It might be the point that many are long and complicated (so many dirty dishes!) since a big point of the book is healing through food, but if a lot of the ingredients felt inaccessible to me as an upper middle class person, I imagine it would be even more difficult for many other people.
onceandfuturelaura's review
4.0
Gorgeous collection of meditations on the Black experience in the USA focused on food. Lots of fascinating essays. Not many recipes. Definitely not vegan.
rmardel's review
5.0
Fascinating book. The stories and essays are engaging and thought provoking. Although there are not a large number of essays, they are thoughtfully integrated into the story the book presents and every recipe I have tried has been excellent and often makes me see food in a new, and delicious, way.
dray's review
5.0
There's a lot of food in this cookbook and most of it does not come from the recipes. The invited guest authors are brilliant, honest, celebratory, and full of life. The recipes are great as well and the playlists are fantastic dessert. Thank you!