8 African-American Cookbooks You Should Know About

estescollage

Title: Good Things to Eat As Suggested by Rufus

About:  Rufus Estes rose to prominence as a chef cooking and catering for presidents Benjamin Harrison and Grover Cleveland, Princess Eulalie of Spain, African explorer Henry Stanley and composer Ignacy Paderewski on the Pullman Co. Private Car Service. By the end of his career, he published Good Things to Eat, as Suggested by Rufus: A Collection of Practical Recipes for Preparing Meats, Game, Fowl, Fish, Puddings, Pastries, Etc. in 1911. This is one of the first cookbooks published by a Black chef.

 

soulfood

Title: Soul Food: The Surprising Story of an American Cuisine, One Plate at a Time

About: Writer Adrian Miller focuses on the history behind the most popular dishes within the Black community. His cookbook is also partly a history book, identifying the health concerns, healthy options, and the social significance of soul food in American society. This refreshing look at one of America’s most celebrated, mythologized, and maligned cuisines is enriched by spirited sidebars, photographs and 22 recipes.

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