The Story Behind Soul Food…
I personally love “Soul Food.” It was the first type of cuisine I learned how to prepare. A great deal of what I learned came from my grandmother who was a share cropper in Durham NC. Being a sharecropper, not only did grandma know how to grow and raise southern food and animals, but she knew how to prepare it. Soul Food originated down south USA during times of slavery. The food derived from scraps which the masters would allow the slaves to keep for their families. Have you ever heard of the saying… “When life gives you lemons…make lemonade.” Well this saying was put into practice by the enslaved African peoples of the United States. Wonderful comfort meals such as chicken and dumplings began to develop. The scrap vegetables were favored and cooked down by using a piece of meat most likely from the pig, and many things that were viewed upon as taboo were made into food.
Now of days, Soul Food is no longer only made with scraps. It consists of an array of different hearty fresh foods and prime meats such as Baked Mac and Cheese, Sweet Potatoes, Collard Greens, Fried or Baked Chicken, Smothered Pork Chops, Ham, Corn Bread and much more! Most Soul Food involves three basic seasonings which are sugar, salt, and pepper (however other seasonings can be used). Other flavorings aside from seasonings are usually induced by meat. Two primary meats used in Soul Food are Chicken and Pork. When seafood is requested, a fried fish is usually preferred. Porgies, Whiting, and Catfish are the most popular types of fish used. Soul Food is prominent in the houses of most African Americans however; Soul Food is not restricted only to those of African descent. It has crossed color barriers by becoming popular amongst all peoples in America. Perhaps the most well known Soul Food restaurant which is frequented by tourists from all over is “Silvia’s” located in Manhattan NYC. “Silvia’s” has been around for years. Silvia herself is a wonderful person whom is a family friend of my Grandfathers. Furthermore, when you travel down south USA, you will not find a difference in the way the southerners eat based off of race, instead, Soul Food is a shared culture in the south. It is usually referred to as “Southern Cuisine” and found on the tables of most southerners in spite of their heritage. Due to my extensive Soul Food background, recipes such as the “Country Fried Fish” and the “String Beans” are contained in my book IS THERE A CHEF IN THE HOUSE. Also for a free Soul Food “Sweet Potato” recipe of mine http://www.athomecookinginstitute.com/free-recipe.html.
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