How do recipes hold us back? An interview with Dr. Jessica B. Harris

Despite her work as a cookbook author, Dr. Jessica B. Harris isn’t a fan of following recipes. Nonetheless, her books have made her an authority on the history of Black foodways, as well as their immense and under-appreciated impact on American cuisine and culture. Earlier this year, her 2011 book High on the Hog was the inspiration of a Netflix docu-series of the same name, in which she’s prominently featured. This week on Food People, Bon Appétit editor-in-chief Dawn Davis sat down with the acclaimed writer and historian to discuss her earliest memories in the kitchen with her dietician mother, cooking for friends like James Baldwin and George Garin, and the best advice they have for people curious about cooking—spoiler alert: The advice is “start cooking."

Stuff we talk about in this episode:

- A list of Dr. Harris’ literary works including Iron Pots and Wooden Spoons, Sky Juice and Flying Fish, and My Soul Looks Back

- Dr. Jessica Harris’ Red Rice recipe

- Dr. Harris’ New Orleans Restaurant recommendations: 

- Upperline Restaurant Website

- Bayona Restaurant Website 

- Justine Restaurant Website 

- Bywater American Bistro Website 

- N7 Restaurant Website 

- Dr. Jessica B. Harris’ Guide to Black Culinary History 

*(When you buy something through our links, we earn an affiliate commission.)

Listen and subscribe at http://listen.bonappetit.com/foodpeople-trailer or wherever you get your podcasts: http://listen.bonappetit.com/foodpeople

• Apple Podcasts: http://listen.bonappetit.com/ba-apple
• Spotify: https://link.chtbl.com/ba-spotify
• Stitcher: http://listen.bonappetit.com/ba-stitcher