Edna Lewis

Edna Lewis (1916-2006) wrote some of America's most resonant, lyrical, and significant cookbooks, including the now classic The Taste of Country Cooking. Lewis cooked and wrote as a means to explore her memories of childhood on a farm in Freetown, Virginia, a community first founded by black families freed from slavery. With such observations as "we would gather wild honey from the hollow of oak trees to go with the hot biscuits and pick wild strawberries to go with the heavy cream," she commemorated the seasonal richness of southern food. After living many years in New York City, where she became a chef and a political activist, she returned to the South and continued to write. Her reputation as a trailblazer in the revival of regional cooking and as a progenitor of the farm-to-table movement continues to grow. In this first-ever critical appreciation of Lewis's work, food-world stars gather to reveal their own encounters with Edna Lewis. Together they penetrate the mythology around Lewis and illuminate her legacy for a new generation.

The essayists are Annemarie Ahearn, Mashama Bailey, Scott Alves Barton, Patricia E. Clark, Nathalie Dupree, John T. Edge, Megan Elias, John T. Hill (who provides iconic photographs of Lewis), Vivian Howard, Lily Kelting, Francis Lam, Jane Lear, Deborah Madison, Kim Severson, Ruth Lewis Smith, Toni Tipton-Martin, Michael W. Twitty, Alice Waters, Kevin West, Susan Rebecca White, Caroline Randall Williams, and Joe Yonan. Editor Sara B. Franklin provides an illuminating introduction to Lewis, and the volume closes graciously with afterwords by Lewis's sister, Ruth Lewis Smith, and niece, Nina Williams-Mbengue.

“Throughout this collection, Franklin meets and exceeds her goal of inviting readers to the table with Edna Lewis by presenting a nuanced portrait of her food and her life.-- Journal of Southern History”

A beautiful ode to a grande dame of Southern cuisine." - Garden & Gun

"Seeks to unpack the complexities surrounding Lewis' life through a series of impressions, interviews, and essays from those who encountered her during her lifetime, whether in person or only through her written word." - The Local Palate

"A fitting tribute to a legendary chef, for anyone interested in culinary history." - Library Journal

"Effectively assembles a larger picture from the bits and pieces of [Lewis's] life that were scattered throughout her writings and transmitted by others. Though they're all very different, collectively the essays form a complete portrait of a woman who was ahead of her time--and who left an important legacy." - Food & Wine

"A great introduction to Southern cuisine for those who are curious about this often misunderstood culinary tradition." - Gambero Rosso

"Throughout this collection, Franklin meets and exceeds her goal of inviting readers to the table with Edna Lewis by presenting a nuanced portrait of her food and her life." - Journal of Southern History

"A delicious tribute to a doyenne of the culinary world. . . . Franklin casts a wide net with the many colorful people who encountered the legendary creator of The Taste of Country Cooking". - Patrik Henry Bass, Essence

"A readable collection of recollections, thoughts, and observations." - Claudia Kousoulas, Chow Line

"[A] perfect traveling companion." - Southern Living

"This collection of essays by devotees of Miss Lewis (the title by which contemporaries showed their respect and love) serves as an appreciation of her life, her achievements, and her legacy." - Booklist, starred review

"Recollections and analysis of [Edna] Lewis, a cornerstone of American cuisine." - Max Watman, The Wall Street Journal

"A compelling examination of Lewis' identity that will appeal to food historians, racial studies scholars, and anyone seeking to learn more about Southern food. A fascinating, prismatic look at the legacy of one of America's most beloved chefs." - Kirkus Reviews

"By combining so many perspectives about her life and her cuisine, Edna Lewis: At the Table with an American Original doubles as an effective biography and a tribute from her range of acolytes." - Foreword Reviews

"[An] important look at Lewis's culinary legacy." - Eater

"Provides stories and insights from people who knew [Edna Lewis] and/or people who have been captivated by her writing and researched her." - Elizabeth Karmel, Associated Press

Sara B. Franklin is a writer and food studies scholar teaching at New York University's Gallatin School of Individualized Study.

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