James Beard Award-winning chef and author Ashleigh Shanti joins This Conversation Matters host Sheree R. Curry for a conversation about Black Southern food, culture and creativity. Shanti explores how geography, migration and family traditions have shaped distinct cuisines across the South and why foods once dismissed as inexpensive or working-class fare are increasingly being celebrated on high-end menus.

The Our South: Black Food Through My Lens author also challenges the expectation that Black chefs must connect everything they create to their ancestry. Sometimes, she says, a chef should simply have the freedom to create. Shanti also reflects on Top Chef, her James Beard Award and being named to the TIME100 Next.

See the video version on YouTube @ShereeCurryMedia https://www.youtube.com/@ShereeCurryMedia

Takeaways

• Culinary inspiration from family and regional influences
• The importance of preserving and celebrating regional cuisine and cultural history Community support is crucial for small businesses
• Recognition and accolades are significant milestones for chefs

Chapters

• 00:00 The Journey to Good Hot Fish
• 03:05 Early Culinary Influences
• 05:23 Our South: Black Food Through My Lens
• 07:51 Regional Cuisine and Cultural Significance
• 18:55 The Shift in Culinary Narratives
• 23:05 Preserving Cultural History Through Food
• 28:19 Top Chef Experience
• 30:39 Building a Community
• 31:09 Winning Restaurant Wars
• 33:53 Charlotte's Culinary Scene
• 36:42 Exploring Asheville
• 38:38 Accolades and Recognition
• 42:24 Food as Medicine
• 45:20 Cultural Heritage and Food
• 49:16 Planning a Podcast Episode