Rice: a Savor the South cookbook

by Michael W. Twitty

Overview

Among the staple foods most welcomed on southern tables—and on tables around the world—rice is without question the most versatile. As Michael W. Twitty observes, depending on regional tastes, rice may be enjoyed at breakfast, lunch, and dinner; as main dish, side dish, and snack; in dishes savory and sweet. Filling and delicious, rice comes in numerous botanical varieties and offers a vast range of scents, tastes, and textures depending on how it is cooked. In some dishes, it is crunchingly crispy; in others, soothingly smooth; in still others, somewhere right in between. Commingled or paired with other foods, rice is indispensable to the foodways of the South.

As Twitty’s fifty-one recipes deliciously demonstrate, rice stars in Creole, Acadian, soul food, Low Country, and Gulf Coast kitchens, as well as in the kitchens of cooks from around the world who are now at home in the South. Exploring rice’s culinary history and African diasporic identity, Twitty shows how to make the southern classics as well as international dishes—everything from Savannah Rice Waffles to Ghanaian Crab Stew. As Twitty gratefully sums up, “Rice connects me to every other person, southern and global, who is nourished by rice’s traditions and customs.”

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781469677613
Publisher:	The University of North Carolina Press
Publication date:	08/01/2023
Series:	Savor the South Cookbooks
Pages:	120
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.30(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Michael W. Twitty is a culinary historian and author of the James Beard Award–winning The Cooking Gene: A Journey through African American Culinary History in the Old South.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“In Rice, culinary historian Michael W. Twitty, who knows so much about Gullah culture, shares the story of the ascent of rice cookery, which has been around for centuries. His unique offerings of Gullah rice recipes, dishes that continue to grace many tables today, reflect the motherland of Sierra Leone and other West African countries.”—Sallie Ann Robinson, author of Gullah Home Cooking the Daufuskie Way and Sallie Ann Robinson’s Kitchen

“A terrific guide to rice’s journey from Africa to the American South and its place in our culinary culture today. Michael W. Twitty’s skills as a culinary historian and historical interpreter shine throughout the book. His vivid writing evokes rice’s flavor and texture, along with touching recollections of his familial relationships to this important food.”—Cynthia Graubart, author of Slow Cooker: Double Dinners for Two and Chicken: A Savor the South Cookbook

“This is Michael W. Twitty’s love letter to rice in the form of a cookbook. Twitty takes readers around the globe examining this humble but precious ingredient in a voice both intimate and authoritative. A perfect guide to selecting, preparing, and cooking rice—will make a fine addition to any cook’s kitchen.”—Bridgette A. Lacy, author of Sunday Dinner: A Savor the South Cookbook

Editorial Reviews

A jampacked volume. . . . [Twitty] has a gift for presenting the historical in a manner that is both accessible and personal.”—New York Times

“The new cookbook from James Beard Award-winning writer Michael W. Twitty is a thin volume full of depth.”—USA Today

“Rice, which contains fifty-one recipes featuring and supporting the grain—including jollof rice, curried rice salad, and Carolina pilau—focuses Twitty’s critical acumen on an ingredient so versatile it has the power to become the main course, a side dish, or dessert. Written in praise of the globally important and endlessly adaptable food, Twitty traces rice’s journey from Africa through the Caribbean and into the American South.”—Garden and Gun

“Joyously illustrates why rice is a staple of diets worldwide and is central to the chefs and practices of the American South and the African diaspora.”—Philadelphia Inquirer

“Before embarking on the recipes, Twitty offers a history of how rice became a staple in the American South, especially after the arrival of enslaved people. . . . Another excellent addition to the Savor the South cookbook series that will appeal to fans of Southern cooking, and anyone looking for new takes on a common ingredient.”—Library Journal

“Links the proliferation of rice across the South to its African origins. Recognizing the ubiquity of rice in Asia, Latin America, and other parts of the world, Twitty doesn’t claim Africans invented rice; instead, he presents a forgotten and often ignored history of African influence in how rice is cultivated, prepared, and served throughout the South and the world.”—Bittman Project

“Sure to delight all Southern and world cuisine foodies, Michael W. Twitty’s Rice is an invaluable addition to the Savor the South series.”—Foreword Reviews

From the Publisher

03/01/2021

Twitty, a culinary historian and author of the James Beard Award-winning The Cooking Gene, highlights the versatile grain rice, including how it can be served in various ways at any meal of the day. Before embarking on the recipes, Twitty offers a history of how rice became a staple in the South, especially after the arrival of enslaved people. These days, many types of rice are popular (basmati, jasmine, etc.) and efforts are underway to revive many varieties of African rice. Perhaps the most popular is a local variety called Carolina Gold that made the fortune of many South Carolina plantation owners and experienced a comeback in the 1980s. Featured meals cover traditional recipes as well as embellishments introducing Creole elements. A chapter on Southern classics include such delicacies as jambalaya and rice dishes with seafood, chicken, and pork. Breads and desserts are also included and feature rice puddings, fritters, and waffles. VERDICT Another excellent addition to the "Savor the South" cookbook series that will appeal to fans of Southern cooking, and anyone looking for new takes on a common ingredient.—Phillip Oliver, formerly with Univ. of North Alabama, Florence

Library Journal