Welcome to the Bookum Author Talks Podcast!

In this episode, we sit down with culinary historian and James Beard Award winner Adrian Miller to explore the REAL history of soul food. We dive deep into Thanksgiving history and traditions, black food traditions, the soul food canon, and cooking through history. Adrian breaks down everything from cooking Thanksgiving dinner and the best soul food dishes to collard greens recipes and old world cooking techniques.

Discover the truth about soul food and how it's not slave food. Learn about mac and cheese history, the origins of chitlins, okra, hibiscus, neckbones, and how Caribbean food traditions connect to soul food culture. We also explore black and Asian chefs in the White House, the history of American BBQ, and the fascinating crossover between Asian cuisine and soul food.

Whether you're looking for collard greens recipes, want to understand black food traditions, or curious about cooking through history, this conversation has it all!

TIMESTAMPS:
1:12 - Thanksgiving + Soul Food Items
2:50 - History of Chitlins
5:10 - Starting Career in Culinary Writing
6:07 - Mac n Cheese History in Soul Food and Thanksgiving
8:14 - Soul Food Canon
9:43 - Preparing Collard Greens
12:01 - History of Hibiscus
13:21 - History of Okra
13:50 - History of Neckbones
14:52 - History of Gumbo
15:34 - Jamaican & Caribbean Foods
18:12 - Soul Food is NOT Slave Food
20:50 - Veganism in Soul Food
23:50 - Black Eye Peas on Stove for Holiday
25:45 - Black Chefs in the White House
29:02 - History of American BBQ
32:12 - Best BBQ City in America
32:45 - Asian Chefs in the White House
34:02 - Asian Cuisine & Soul Food Crossovers
36:12 - Documenting Family Recipes Histories
39:12 - Writing Process of A Cookbook
42:24 - Writing Food Reviews
45:01 - Rapid Fire Food Questions
46:42 - What Should Be in a Foodies Toolkit?

📚 ADRIAN MILLER'S BOOKS:
"Soul Food: The Surprising Story of an American Cuisine, One Plate at a Time" (2013) https://www.amazon.com/Soul-Food-Surprising-American-Cuisine/dp/1469607352

"The President's Kitchen Cabinet: The Story of the African Americans Who Have Fed Our First Families, from the Washingtons to the Obamas" (2017)
https://www.amazon.com/Presidents-Kitchen-Cabinet-African-Americans/dp/1469630494

"Black Smoke: African Americans and the United States of Barbecue" (2021)
https://www.amazon.com/Black-Smoke-African-Americans-United/dp/1469663406

"Cooking to the President's Taste: Asian Heritage Chefs in White House History" (2025) - Co-authored with Deborah Chang
https://shop.whitehousehistory.org/products/cooking-to-the-presidents-taste

Adrian Miller Social Media:
Website - https://adrianemiller.com/
Twitter - https://x.com/soulfoodscholar
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/soulfoodscholar/


Make sure to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more author conversations!

Make sure to download our Book club and Book networking app Bookum at https://www.bookumapp.com

This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com

Catch all of conversations live on the Bookum App Nooks!