Tuesday, April 2, 2019

Buttermilk Graffiti: April/May Announcement

Buttermilk Graffiti by Edward Lee is a good companion piece coming off our reading of The Cooking Gene by Michael Twitty. Lee  traces his own food comforts and influences.  Along the way he establishes connections for all Americans as he travels the country looking for a national cuisine — ”that tension between two vastly different cultures creates something new” (Kindle location 129). Even the title talks about the melding of Edward:
The title of this book, Buttermilk Graffiti, is poetic shorthand for my life. Buttermilk is the iconic ingredient of the American South, one that I not only learned to cook with, but grew to love. Graffiti is the art form that first inspired my identity, the thing that connects me to the memories of my youth in Brooklyn in the 1980s. (Kindle location 102) 
I devoured this book in record time and I am confident the CTB members will as well. (Lee was an English major and I think it’s evident in his writing and style.) Lee travels on his quest to Louisiana, Massachusetts, Brooklyn, Michigan, Florida, Appalachia (with Ronni Lundy), the Mississippi Delta, Alabama, Connecticut, Washington, Texas, New Jersey, Kentucky, Wisconsin, and Illinois. I’ve listed the states/regions he visits here, but Lee is journeying to each area for specific cuisines in specific cities (like the slaw dog and or food of specific cultures). 

Edward Lee is the author of Smoke & Pickles and Buttermilk Graffiti. He is the chef/owner/culinary director of numerous restaurants in Kentucky, Maryland, and D.C.  I first became aware of Lee through his role in the Emmy Award-winning series The Mind of a ChefFermented, a feature-length documentary, is another recent project (2017). He splits his time between Louisville, KY and Washington, DC. 

Deadline for contributing your post is Friday, May 31, 2019.   Leave a comment on this post or email me at eliotseats@gmail.com.  

12 comments:

Camilla M. Mann said...

Emailed you, Debra. Thanks for hosting.

Debra Eliotseats said...

You are numero uno again, Camilla!

A Day in the Life on the Farm said...

Thanks for hosting Debra. My post went live this morning. Loved this book. Help yourself to photos.

https://adayinthelifeonthefarm.blogspot.com/2019/04/beignets-cookthebooksclub.html

Debra Eliotseats said...

Got it, Wendy! So far, the beignets have it ! :)

Simona Carini said...

I LOVED the book. Thank you for choosing it, Debra :)

Amy said...

Fantastic book choice! Here's my post, Pollo a la Brasa! http://www.amyscookingadventures.com/2019/04/pollo-la-brasa-peruvian-chicken.html

Debra Eliotseats said...

Got it! Thanks! Glad you liked it.

Claudia said...

Thanks for hosting Debra. Mine's up now: https://honeyfromrock.blogspot.com/2019/05/i-ts-cook-books-time-here-summing-up.html

Deb in Hawaii said...

I am a few days before the deadline and feel almost early! ;-) Loved the book Debra and adored the Pickle Juice Gravy.

https://kahakaikitchen.blogspot.com/2019/05/pickled-sweet-peppers-pickle-juice.html

Simona Carini said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Simona Carini said...

Here's my contribution (with the correct link and apologies for the earlier mistake)
https://www.pulcetta.com/2019/05/recipe-artichokes-fava-beans-sausage.html

Thank you for hosting: I totally enjoyed the book

Elizabeth said...

What a fantastic book Buttermilk Graffiti is! Even though we still haven't finished reading it.

And I know that I have posted our version of Edward Lee's popcorn bread (chapter two) way way way too late for the roundup of Cook the Books. But I still wanted to let you know that your club inspired us to read the book in the first place. Thank you!!



blog from OUR kitchen | This is wild: Popcorn (?!) Bread – (CtB)
https://etherwork.net/blog/wild-popcorn-bread/