“Black Power Kitchen is as much a cooking manual as it is a manifesto of Ghetto Gastro’s decade-long mission: Seeing eating as simultaneously a form of survival and a source of luxury, Black Power Kitchen frames food as a form of love, but also a weapon — one that has long been wielded against communities like Ghetto Gastro’s in the Bronx.” —Eater “Described as The Joy of Cooking meets the Bible, Black Power Kitchen is like nothing you’ve ever read before.” —Financial Times “This year’s most important cookbook.”—Vogue “Deliciousness in print form. . . . A powerful guide for food and conversation, filled with influential voices and flavorful recipes.” —Ebony “Every recipe comes with an immersive story, bringing you closer to the intent behind the dish.”—The Strategist, The Year’s Most Giftable Coffee-Table Books “Featuring vibrant recipes, interviews, art, and photography, this is a compelling culinary manifesto about the nature of Black food. . . . Ghetto Gastro offers an awakening of what Black food was, is, and can become while demonstrating the sheer joy and creativity Black communities generate. With waves of crunch, heat, flavor, and umami, this Bronx culinary collective also inspires discussions about race, history, and long-standing food inequality.” —Food & Wine “Defiant. . . . The pop-cultural prominence of its creators, their directness of purpose and the timing of its release make Black Power Kitchen particularly cutting-edge.” —Washington Post “It’s teeming with vibrant photography, interviews and personal stories, plus 75 recipes. . . . Expect dishes with big flavors and textures, like the Strong Back Stew and King Jaffe Jollof, and a plant-based reimagining of chopped cheese.” —Forbes “Ghetto Gastro’s Black Power Kitchen cookbook will change how you eat.” —Men’s Health “Transcends categorization. It is no mere cookbook, but a blend of brilliant, full-color photography, poetry, paintings, illustration, essays and, of course, scores of recipes. . . . Reading Black Power Kitchen, you come away with a deeper understanding of the rich cultural heritage behind some of the most beloved dishes from the Black diaspora. ” —Interview “Must-read. . . . An awakening and celebration of Black culture and food.” —Philadelphia Inquirer “A magnum opus.” —Thrillist “In this Black Power Kitchen, joy and activism collide.” —Atlas Obscura “A highly visual manifesto for living and eating to stimulate the mind, body, and heart, this book promotes Black excellence through recipes, art, and thought-provoking text.” —Essence “They marry food, music, fashion, visual arts and social activism into a beautiful book that is perfectly suited for the coffee table or the kitchen countertop.” —The Root “Black Power Kitchen dives deeply into the politics of food, whether that’s the language we use or the ingredients we choose to cook with. In doing so, readers are challenged to rethink their assumptions about even the most mundane ingredients.” —Food52 “Part cookbook, part manifesto, and 100% singular vision, Black Power Kitchen sits right at the intersection of food, visual art, culture, social justice, and fashion. Food has always been both personal and political and these past few years of activism coupled with the identification and acknowledgement of indigenous and historical foodways has clearly brought this notion to the forefront. One of the signature dishes of Ghetto Gastro is the Triple Cs, reveling in the high/low combo of crispy cornbread, lush crab salad, and caviar. Through deliciousness we can still learn and grow beyond what we think food is about.” —Edible LA “Ghetto Gastro serves up vibrant recipes, interviews, paintings, and photographs. . . . Meals served up with ideals make this a dynamic and delicious cultural celebration.” —Publishers Weekly, Top 10 Cooking & Food Books for Fall 2022 “Deeply absorbing. . . . A wonderfully written and beautifully produced book. In keeping with Ghetto Gastro’s multidisciplinary approach, this volume will offer readers an engaging excursion into food history and culture, with a myriad of appealing recipes.” —Library Journal “My guys have always represented our hood with their fire meals. Shouts to Ghetto Gastro, my actual Bronx neighbors, for writing a book that lets the rest of y’all know the real foods, lifestyles, and people that make our borough the best of all the boroughs. AH AH AH BX ALL DAY.” —DESUS NICE “Challenging assumptions and subversive enlightenment are foundational to Ghetto Gastro’s movement. Black Power Kitchen is a vibrant expression of creative brilliance, imagination, and the kind of cultural fluency that can be garnered only from participation, not observation.” —STEPHEN SATTERFIELD “Black Power Kitchen is cookbook as manifesto, a look at the future of food through a perspective rarely given the platform it deserves. But don’t be mistaken: it’s also a fantastic culinary resource. The recipes are so delicious that I didn't even realize many of them were vegetarian or vegan. I encourage everyone to dive deep, devour, enjoy, and learn from this book.” —DAVID CHANG “The Bronx is the world and Ghetto Gastro is our higher authority. Black Power Kitchen is a first-class culinary journey full of the beauty of life. These are the stories and recipes we need.”—MATTY MATHESON “Black Power Kitchen is an awakening of what Black food was, is, and can become while showcasing the pure joy and creativity Black folks have to offer. Amazing!” —MASHAMA BAILEY “Ghetto Gastro is a part of a movement redirecting the contemporary kitchen, tearing down walls, and breaking boundaries. Their book introduces us to a cuisine steeped in flavor; deep with power, pride, and identity; rich in history; and endowed with the power to unite people around the table.” —MASSIMO BOTTURA “Jon, Pierre, and Lester understand that change happens through conversation, and the best way to get people talking is through good food. All the better when the plate is also nourishing, sustainable, and accessible. I admire that the recipes in this collection yield dishes that are both beautiful and subversive, encouraging people to think beyond the assemblage of ingredients that make a meal. Cooking from this book makes me feel inspired and motivated to keep learning.” —DANIEL HUMM “Ghetto Gastro gives us incredible, unique recipes and an equal amount of powerful perspective on food philosophies. Homies are killing the game.” —TONY HAWK “Black Power Kitchen is full of such compelling truths and it brings to light the real importance of food in our culture.” —DOMINIQUE CRENN “The Ghetto Gastro boys from the Bronx have really interrupted the food game. They’re like a band, where each one is doing something different, and I’m inspired to see them.” —MARCUS SAMUELSSON “Ghetto Gastro has their finger on the cultural pulse, and not just on the cutting edge of cuisine, aesthetics, fashion, and lifestyle. In their debut book, they face the issues confronting their community head-on, and tackle the inequalities of the manufactured food wasteland of America with unvarnished honesty.”—DAVID GELB
10/01/2022
In Jon Gray, Pierre Serrao, and Lester Walker's Bronx-based creative and culinary collective Ghetto Gastro, Black culinary traditions meet music, art, design, and fashion. Over the course of this cookbook's seven chapters, the authors focus on the cuisine and culture of Black communities in the Bronx. They discuss the importance of food from the perspective of culture and equality and challenge assumptions, all with hopes of having honest discussions about food, race, identity, and history. The book's stories and recipes have been drawn from the Bronx's African American communities as well as the larger African diaspora. Alongside the deeply absorbing narratives are 75 mostly vegetarian and vegan recipes. VERDICT A wonderfully written and beautifully produced book. In keeping with Ghetto Gastro's multidisciplinary approach, this volume will offer readers an engaging excursion into food history and culture, with a myriad of appealing recipes. Best for those interested in culinary and cultural histories.—Jacqueline Parascandola
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