Back in the Mix
An update on ‘Islas’, my oral history work, and vegan empanadas…
Del escritorio de Von:
Amigxs, it’s been a while! The past six months have been bountiful, albeit challenging —juggling my role as a Senior Producer at StoryCorps with all of the deliciousness of Islas and other food history and culture projects. Here’s a few things I’ve been cookin’ up. Thanks for subscribing!
De corazón,
Von
NEW Islas release date: March 2024
A combination of Covid-related production delays pushed the release date for Islas to March 2024. But don’t fret, I’ll be previewing recipes and excerpts here on La Piña!
In the meantime, you can preorder Islas through Chronicle Books, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or your preferred bookseller.
Recording Oral Histories across the U.S.
I’m inching towards my 10th year working with StoryCorps—a non-profit that records stories across the U.S. and preserves them in the Library of Congress—where I got my start as a documentarian and oral historian. I took a break, came back, took a break... and it’s been a meaningful journey, and return. As I shared previously, I visited the Biloxi-Chitimacha Choctaw on the Isle de Jean Charles, Louisiana, and most recently traveled to Arizona and Oklahoma.
In Tulsa, I met Mother Lessie Benningfield Randall, who at 108-years-old is one of two living survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Massacre. And in Oklahoma City, I got a chance to meet Jamaican-born James Beard Award-Winning Chef Andrew Black, who treated me to a truly memorable meal at his restaurant, Grey Sweater (highlight: tiny grilled cheese sandwiches with caviar).
While there, I reported a story for NPR’s Morning Edition about Ayanna Najuma, one of 13 children who sat-in at a segregated Katz Drug Store in Oklahoma City 65 years ago. She was seven at the time. This protest predates the better-known Greensboro Four sit-in, where a group of college students occupied a North Carolina Woolworth’s lunch counter in 1960. Rooted in nonviolence, these sit-ins were a far-reaching advocacy strategy that spanned lunch counters, department stores, courtrooms, and the White House.
“Field Notes from Latin American Kitchens” on Delish
One of my favorite projects this year was Field Notes from Latin American Kitchens for Delish! I gathered a small group of brilliant writers—Steven Alvarez, Chef Maribel Rivero, Leticia Schwartz, Nico Vera, and Jennifer Zyman—to write about five iconic, ubiquitous Latin American dishes: rice and beans, empanadas, grilled meat, ceviche, and tacos. I also got to pick Chef Maria Mercedes Grubb’s brain about perfect pantry staples. Here’s a little taste:
“Chile, lime, cumin, and oregano—these are among the signature flavors of Latin American cuisines. But so is tropical fruit like mango, papaya, and coconut; smoky pork-laced beans; earthy corn tortillas; and marinated meat kissed by fire.”
Coming soon: “Puerto Rico’s West Coast Flavor” in Garden & Gun Magazine
In late March I traveled to the motherland and spent a week on the west coast. I was there to teach a course on critical cookbook writing at the University of Puerto Rico in Mayagüez, but a few days prior I learned that my friend and mentor Cruz Miguel Ortiz Cuadra had died unexpectedly following a battle with cancer. His death turned a work trip into a deeply introspective one. And because he is the reason why I study Puerto Rican foodways, it was also very delicious.
Here’s some of what was going through my head, which will be in the December/January issue of Garden & Gun Magazine:
“Like many folks in the diaspora, I have a complicated relationship with the island. I feel fundamentally connected, but also detached. I didn’t grow up here (I spent most of my childhood in Atlanta), so I struggle with claiming I’m from here, but something in my bones tells me I’m home. Actually, growing up in both these places taught me how much they have in common; how the legacy of African culture breathes deep in both landscapes through their shared history.”
Un Poquito Más
While in Tucson, I hung out with my friend Gary Nabhan (who I interviewed for The Splendid Table in 2018). Check out his new book, Agave Spirits.
And, because I know folks are already planning for the holidays, check out my ode to Savannah’s River Street Sweets in Southern Living because, yes, they ship those incredible pralines. Thanks to artist Kendyll Hillegas for this delightful illustration of me.
Writer: Von Diaz | Editor: KC Hysmith | Photo Curator: Cybelle Codish
Editor’s note:
Howdy! My name is KC Hysmith and I am thrilled to be joining the La Piña team as editor. In my career as a food scholar, I have consumed copious amounts of writing on all things related to food and drink, including this thoughtfully crafted newsletter. I’m excited to now be part of the small, but mighty team that brings La Piña to your screen! - KC Hysmith, PhD, editor
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Brava!!!!!!
It was great meeting you back in March during your trip. The west coast doesn't get enough love. Can't wait to check out your Garden & Gunn article!