Popular culture often portrays the plantation kitchen as a happy place. Some enslaved cooks were trained in French cooking, James Jennings, was trained in France. He reminds us that slavery began with food, specifically sugar. He describes himself as an “obsessive cook with compulsive genealogist tendencies who can point to a map of Africa, Europe, North America, and with it, the South, and guide you on trade winds to tidal creeks leading to ports, leading to roads and to plantations and more roads and more plantations to cities.”Īt the heart of the book is Twitty’s Southern Discomfort Tour – where he goes to plantations, cities and towns where his ancestors lived and worked. Twitty reads the book himself which works well because the book is a very personal journey. It is a memoir, a history of southern cuisine and a book on genealogy. I really enjoyed listening to this book, but am struggling to write about it. Please register through the Groton Public Library website.This is a book that showcases my shortcomings as a reviewer. The Groton Public Library will be running the Zoom webinar, and is managing registrations. Sponsored by the Groton Public Library Endowment Trust. For more information on Chef Bill, visit Please note, registration will close 2 hours prior to this event.įor more information about Michael Twitty, visit . Using genetic research, historic interpretation, nature study, heirloom gardening, and interviews with contemporary voices in food, his journey led him back to his family’s origins in West and Central Africa and put him center stage in the discussion over race and food in American life through his popular food blog, Afroculinara.Īs 25 town libraries are collaborating to make this event possible (with the expected correspondingly sized audience), we will be utilizing two viewing modes: Zoom webinar and livestreaming through NewTV, to ensure everyone will be able to view the event at the same time.

In this unique memoir, Michael starts to trace his family history through the story of Southern and American food.

Massachusetts-based chef and author (and huge Michael Twitty fan), Chef Bill, will facilitate this event’s discussion.Īfrican American culinary historian Michael Twitty found there was a giant hole in the story of American cooking and in the story of most African American families. Join a community of 25 public libraries from across the state to welcome Michael Twitty, as he discusses his book, The Cooking Gene, the 2018 James Beard Foundation’s Book of the Year Award-winner.

Michael twitty the cooking gene