Staff Pick
It’s important to read the subtitle to understand this cookbook: "A Food Lover's Tour of the Global South." It’s easy to think of Southern cooking as being primarily a mix of African, French, and British cooking. But many other immigrants (Lebanese, Greek, Mexican) started their American lives in the South and brought their own foods and cooking styles into the Southern foodways. Chef Virginia Willis celebrates the multicultural South with deep appreciation and respect. Since America has a reputation for being the ethnic “melting pot” of the world, Secrets of the Southern Table is a welcome representation of our diverse heritage. Recommended By Tracey T., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Classic and contemporary recipes, stories, and profiles from one of the most respected names in modern Southern cooking
Secrets of the Southern Table is a collection of 80 crave-worthy recipes from award-winning cookbook author, journalist, television personality, and Southern cooking expert Virginia Willis. Stamped with Virginia's signature charm and wit, this collection welcomes home cooks to delight guests with delicious and diverse offerings such as Black Pepper Cream Cheese Biscuits, Butter Sorghum Chicken, and Warm Mexican Chocolate Pudding with Bourbon Cream. The recipes capture not only the traditional flavors of the region, but the exciting emerging tastes that influence the modern South.
Virginia's warm and welcoming voice provides colorful historical background, such as how shrimp (free for the fishing) and grits began as a dish enjoyed by impoverished families and moved into a signature dish of modern fine restaurants. So much more than a cookbook, Secrets of the Southern Table is a celebration of the fascinating and evolving South by a respected name in the region's cuisine and culture.
Synopsis
Recipes and stories of the modern South In Secrets of the Southern Table, award-winning chef and cookbook author Virginia Willis takes you on a tour of today's South--a region rich in history and cultural diversity. With her signature charm and wit, Virginia shares many well-known Southern recipes like Pimento Cheese Tomato Herb Pie and "Cathead" Biscuits, but also some surprising revelations drawn from the area's many global influences, like Catfish Tacos with Avocado Crema, Mississippi-Style Char Siu Pork Tenderloin, and Greek Okra and Tomatoes. In addition to the recipes, Virginia profiles some of the diverse chefs, farmers, and other culinary influencers who are shaping contemporary Southern cuisine. Together, these stories and the delicious recipes that accompany them celebrate the rich and ever-evolving heritage of Southern cooking.