A bold cookbook, that delivers so much more. Combining stories, poems, essays, and recipes from across the African diaspora. It uses full colour images and illustrations to punctuate stories, introduce new chapters, and more traditionally as a visual aid to the recipes.

It oozes creativity, artistic endeavour and is a visual feast for your eyes. This is a unique, thought-provoking, unexpected, audacious title. Highly recommended.

When the holidays roll around, there is one thing that we know is going to happen: someone is going to cook a bomb ass meal and/or dish. As a Black person, food is the love language. There is no better way to let someone know you love them than with food. The book Black Food by Bryant Terry is so much more than a cookbook. It shares art and stories spanning the African diaspora. We get an understanding of the food we grew up with as well as the food we never got to try. This book gives us the ability to experience home within ourselves and each other. I speak on it through the lense of a Black person but it holds value for all of us. A constant theme in the books chosen for this calendar is understanding. When we understand what it is like to be taken from home and find a way to still experience joy and create foods that not only connect the diaspora but the American experience, we find common ground. We all know what it is like to lose something and it never be found; never quite whole again. The American experience is lost and we have to be the ones to reshape it; to make it into something new. We use the past to connect us but we also must use it to create something beyond what is known.

There is a list of recipes in this book that leads us into the renewed and reshaped American experience. They are the following:

I Love New York Pink and Gold Cookies

Poulet Yassa Osso Bucco

Ghanaian Crepe Cake

Sweet Potato Grits

Whiskey Sour

But, this book is more than recipes. The stories, essays and poems give us a look at how we are still connected to the Motherland; how migration influenced our food ways; how faith, religion and spirituality influence us; how we can still enjoy a leisurely lifestyle; how we can still be in touch with the land and practice food justice; how Black women and queer people have space in this food landscape; and how we need to practice self-care to get to liberation.

This book belongs on your coffee table, bookshelf, kitchen; wherever it can spark conversation. If you want to purchase for yourself or gift to someone else, click the link above.

This is a visually stunning book, containing both artwork and images of the foods being discussed and prepared. Separated into chapters based on cultural ideas, each chapter begins with personal narratives that related the writers' personal experiences, some related directly to food and others less directly. Each chapter then includes recipes related in some fashion to the theme of the chapter.

This is far more than a cookbook; the various authors discuss how food is intrinsic to life; not just how food is cooked, but how it is sourced. It is a fascinating look into a diverse group of people and how their personal and cultural histories have shaped their relationship with food. If all you want is a cookbook, and you skip the narratives, you will miss a great deal; if you read the narratives and skip the recipes, that's up to you - but I now have some great ideas for recipes to make in the near future, some that are familiar, and some that are not.

I am providing this review in return for being given a preview copy of the novel by NetGalley.

I was lucky enough to get a copy of this from goodreads and net galley and as an avid lover of cookbooks this is just a beautiful book. With vivid pictures and collection of essays. It’s a very cool concept

Fair warning, I havent tried any recipes yet,.. but they do look good and accurate.. I have been wanting to try my hand and doubles for a long time now, and there they are!

This is so much more than just a cookbook, it has so many stories and passages to read. I also appreciated that there is Queer representation included.. so often times, it is not included in black culture cookbooks and such.

All in all, very pleased with my purchase!

In 2019, Sarah Ladipo Manyika, the British-Nigerian writer, was at the Open Book Festival in Cape Town. A member of the audience asked her what Toni Morrison’s house smelled like, a question that surprised and delighted her and inspired one of the most beautiful essays I have ever read. You can find Manyika’s contribution early on in Bryant Terry’s striking book, which collates food essays, recipes, poetry, art, playlists, and calls to action by more than 100 creators drawn from the African Diaspora. Terry himself is no under-achiever—he’s an NAACP Image Award winner, a James Beard Award-winning chef and educator and the author of Afro-Vegan and Vegetable Kingdom. It is an extraordinarily generous book, no doubt because of him, packed with stellar names: Michael Twitty, Zoe Adjonyoh, Klancy Miller, Alexander Smalls, Yewande Komolafe, Mashama Bailey, Erica Council, and Nicole Taylor are but a few.

The recipes are to die for: Cheryl Day gives us peach hand pies; ‘The Best Potato Salad Ever- Yeah I Said It!’ by Monica Dayo is flavoured with tarragon and bound with aioli; Shannon Mustipher’s ‘Good Bones’ cocktail with soursop, honey syrup, Rhum and guava draws from the story of Haiti; and Omar Tate’s Vegetarian Gumbo tested his faith— his wife prayed for him— as he contemplated what might be lost through using tofu. “How do I keep the bones, make up its skin, what of its heart, how does it smile?” he asks in an accompanying essay. As Terry says in the introduction: "These pages offer up gratitude to the great chain of Black lives, and to all the sustaining ingredients and nourishing traditions they carried and remembered, through time and space, to deliver their kin into the future. We pray that this collection facilitates reflection on and veneration of our sacred foodways.” I am so moved by this book.

About seven years ago, I chanced upon my first Bryant Terry book at my public library. I'd just moved and was exploring my new community while also doing some nesting in my new home. So visiting the library and trying new recipes were both on my agenda. His The Inspired Vegan opened up a new world of cooking for me—and when Afro-Vegan was issued a few months later, I immediately bought a copy.

Bryant Terry writes his cookbooks like a generous host, inviting us into his home, telling us stories, offering us a blend of familiar and new flavors—all accompanied by music. Seriously, check out the play lists that he includes in his cookbooks. They're a great source of energy and inspiration, whether in the kitchen or elsewhere.

Black Food has all the characteristics of a Bryant Terry cookbook: good food, stories, playlists and Black history. In Black Food he's not just inviting us into his home; he's introducing us to Black activists and cooks at what I can only call the most culturally rich potluck I've ever attended. Since not all those he profiles are vegan, this book includes recipes for dishes with meat and dairy, along with the delicious vegan food Terry specializes in.

This is a go-buy-it-now-and-maybe-stop-at-the-grocery-on-the-way-home cookbook. You won't want to wait to get cooking and to start meeting the people Terry's going to introduce you to.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGally. I also have already published a paper copy of this book now that it's out. It's that good.

This book is absolutely ALIVE with color and flavor and ideas. It's beautifully designed, and gift-worthy, and definitely full of delicious recipes -- some simple and accessible, others a little more exotic.

Black Food is such an interesting book. It is a collection of essays, poems, stories and recipes written by a large variety of people and illustrates the black experience. The input is structured under different themes such as Motherhood, Queer, Spirituality, etc. I skim read a few of the essays and browsed the titles of the recipes. The photography was also beautiful but not all recipes had one. It is not a classic kind of cookbook, it is more of a complex cultural experience.

Such a beautiful tribute to all “black food”. Showcasing dishes from all across the diaspora, its definitely a must have for any food lover!

This book is gorgeous! The love and care poured into it overflows from the page. Oriana Koren’s photographs are gorgeous. The art direction is flawless. I loved the essays by Charlene Carruthers and Adrienne Maree Brown. Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher.

A triumph. It almost defys description. A compilation of essays and reflections of the black experience from every aspect related to food and its impact on life and its struggles. It’s more than the history of a people uprooted and later set adrift without any help or safe harbor. It holds the joy found in sorrow through a voice that’s gained timbre and resilience, over time. It was an honor to set my eyes on this project and spend time in the midst of these artists of the kitchen.

A really beautifully curated collection of gorgeous art and photography, essays, poetry, stories of family and community, and lots of delicious sounding recipes. It’s truly a joyful celebration of the black experience, showcasing so much talent and creativity. Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read this unique book.

Love how this cookbook was designed and laid out! Someone was off about the food photographer for me… maybe too bright? Some of it felt cheap in comparison to the beautiful rich artwork in the book. Can’t wait to try some recipes!

This is a beautiful collection that effortlessly celebrates the black experience. Black Food feeds the reader essays, stories, and recipes. It truly showcases the creativity of the black diaspora. I loved the mix of new and classic recipes. The photographs are breath taking and the words are just as powerful. The book is split into chapters covering subjects like Motherland, Spirituality, Migration and Black, Queer, Food. This is definitely a coffee table book that will be a valuable resource and lovely addition for any collector.

Black Food is a masterpiece! From the graphics, to the writing, to the recipes. This is an expertly curated selection of writings, art, and recipes from Black contributors. The work is specifically focused on Black Foodways. This is required reading for everyone! This book is so gorgeous that it will be a welcome piece on any coffee table.

Black kitchen

Content:
The book Black Food is a cookbook, which brings together the eating habits of Black America in many reviewers. The author, food activist and author of Vegetable Kingdom Bryant Terry, writes in this book a tribute to culinary. Diversity of Black Cuisine. Along with the dishes, you'll find compelling stories from well-known personalities.

Opinion
I find this book to be a truly loving compilation of black cuisine. Some of the dishes I even know and have tried. In itself, the yield in this cookbook for me personally a little low, because not everything meets my taste. But I think that the book really appeals to very many people.

Conclusion:
Since I have not found so many dishes that I would like to recreate - certainly a matter of taste - there is from me a good 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC from NetGalley.

What a stunning and informative book!
It is not just a cookbook that shares recipes. We learn about history and the stories of POC and their communities as well as learning about the food they grew up with and love.

It's colourful and excellently designed and a great read. Reading about the food of another culture is always an excellent window into their hearts and souls.

Black Food is a stunning holistic compendium of recipes, history, culture, essays, and art. It's far beyond a regular cookbook, though there is a variety of wonderful recipes. So many voices and experiences are collected in this one stunning book.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4125899791

This love letter to Black Food (because calling it a cookbook would be an disservice to Bryant Terry and the other voices of this letter) is filled with the humming of grandma in the kitchen, the stories passed down from one generation to another during meal times, laced with the smells of food alchemy emanating early on Sunday morning and overnight during holidays. This letter to the Black/ African diaspora honors and celebrates history while painting vivid concepts through engaging art filled thought out the pages of Black Food. Black Food: Stories, Art, and Essays

From the publisher:

A beautiful, rich, and groundbreaking book exploring Black foodways within America and around the world, curated by food activist and author of Vegetable Kingdom Bryant Terry.

In this stunning and deeply heartfelt tribute to Black culinary ingenuity, Bryant Terry captures the broad and divergent voices of the African Diaspora through the prism of food. With contributions from more than 100 Black cultural luminaires from around the globe, the book moves through chapters exploring parts of the Black experience, from Homeland to Migration, Spirituality to Black Future, offering delicious recipes, moving essays, and arresting artwork.

As much a joyful celebration of Black culture as a cookbook, Black Food explores the interweaving of food, experience, and community through original poetry and essays, including "Jollofing with Toni Morrison" by Sarah Ladipo Manyika, "Queer Intelligence" by Zoe Adjonyoh, "The Spiritual Ecology of Black Food" by Leah Penniman, and "Foodsteps in Motion" by Michael W. Twitty. The recipes are similarly expansive and generous, including sentimental favorites and fresh takes such as Crispy Cassava Skillet Cakes from Yewande Komolafe, Okra & Shrimp Purloo from BJ Dennis, Jerk Chicken Ramen from Suzanne Barr, Avocado and Mango Salad with Spicy Pickled Carrot and Rof Dressing from Pierre Thiam, and Sweet Potato Pie from Jenné Claiborne. Visually stunning artwork from such notables as Black Panther Party creative director Emory Douglas and artist Sarina Mantle are woven throughout, and the book includes a signature musical playlist curated by Bryant.

With arresting artwork and innovative design, Black Food is a visual and spiritual feast that will satisfy any soul.