We are officially in the last stretch of November that leads into the Thanksgiving Holiday. The holiday started as a peaceful gathering of two groups of people, the Native Americans and Pilgrims. Soon after, there was oppression soon for the Native Americans. As the years went on, African people were then forced into America in large numbers to be enslaved. In this country, they had no access to the foods known to the African continent. And, the enslavers only gave them food scraps to survive on. They found ways to preserve the food such as by using salt and they found ways to bring in some aspects of African culture with cooking style. Over time there were some European and Native American influences, but this ultimately became the unofficial start to what we know as “Soul Food.”
Soul Food was offcially used in the 1960’s and is considered African American cuisine with origins in the Southern states. This is the food I grew up on and still eat on Holidays such as Thanksgiving. There is controversy regarding the healthiness of this food, but as in all things, it’s good in moderation. Many people have even found ways to modify the meals in a healthy way and keep the taste in tack. Some of my favorite Soul Food options are Collard Greens, Sweet Potato Pie, and Smothered Chicken/Pork Chops. Collard Greens is one of the healthiest dark green leafy vegetables, but its popularity is still mostly amongst African Americans.
In this week, there are many families preparing their Black-eyed peas, baked macaroni and cheese, candied yams, and cornbread amongst other Soul Food options. These food takes time and preparation. On the other end, there are many families who have never had Soul Food, and are preparing their traditional meals. If you ever want to try Soul Food, I recommend you check your local listings to find a location. But if you’re ever in the New York area, here are some great restaurants to get a taste of that good ol’ fashion Soul Food.