Adrian Miller, Soul Food

In this
insightful and eclectic history, Adrian Miller delves into the
influences, ingredients, and innovations that make up the soul food tradition.
Focusing each chapter on the culinary and social history of one dish--such as
fried chicken, chitlins, yams, greens, and "red drinks"--Miller
uncovers how it got on the soul food plate and what it means for African
American culture and identity in Soul
Food: The Surprising Story of an American Cuisine, One Plate at a Time ($30.00).

Miller argues
that the story is more complex and surprising than commonly thought. Four
centuries in the making, and fusing European, Native American, and West African
cuisines, soul food--in all its fried, pork-infused, and sugary glory--is but
one aspect of African American culinary heritage. Miller discusses how soul
food has become incorporated into American culture and explores its connections
to identity politics, bad health raps, and healthier alternatives. This
refreshing look at one of America's most celebrated, mythologized, and maligned
cuisines is enriched by spirited sidebars, photographs, and 22 recipes.

Adrian Miller
is a writer, attorney, and certified barbecue judge who lives in Denver, CO. He
served as a special assistant to President Bill Clinton, a senior policy
analyst for Colorado Governor Bill Ritter Jr., and a Southern Foodways Alliance
board member.