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Kayla Stewart
Kayla Stewart

261 Followers

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Published in Heated

·Updated Sep 22, 2020

Okra, the Vegetable of Survival

The vegetable of my ancestors brings healing during the global pandemic — Okra is the food of my ancestors, who were pulled from their homes in Africa. It was grown by those enslaved along the Carolinas, and devoured by them in Louisiana. Okra is a constant in my familial story — one that includes deep memories and gaping holes of history. It…

Okra

4 min read

Okra, the Vegetable of Survival
Okra, the Vegetable of Survival
Okra

4 min read


Published in Heated

·Aug 31, 2020

Racial Justice Can — and Should — Start at the Table

Where mealtime is a moment for change — We live in a system in which a white cop feels empowered to kneel on a Black man’s neck for nearly 9 minutes and take his life. That system is held up by politicians, officers, and everyday citizens who grew up in homes with a narrow view of America —…

Dinner

5 min read

Racial Justice Can — and Should — Start at the Table
Racial Justice Can — and Should — Start at the Table
Dinner

5 min read


Published in Heated

·Jul 13, 2020

Darius Williams Aims to Demystify Vegan Soul Food

Even through closed restaurants and a pandemic, he’s pursuing his dream — When Darius Williams moved to Atlanta five years ago, he thought he wanted to be the next Food Network star. A boisterous, gay Black chef, Williams’ personality and culinary skills were in his favor. Instead, the food blogger became a social media star on his own, Food Network not included. …

Food

6 min read

Darius Williams Aims to Demystify Vegan Soul Food
Darius Williams Aims to Demystify Vegan Soul Food
Food

6 min read


Published in Heated

·Jun 1, 2020

Lessons on Black Food History From Rufus Estes’ ‘Good Things to Eat’

What the first cookbook from an African American chef teaches us — Toni Tipton-Martin’s lauded cookbook Jubilee, named one of the best cookbooks of 2019 by numerous publications, is one of the most significant efforts to share the stories and recipes of the chefs who created and shaped African American cooking — and an American culinary landscape that people from endless backgrounds…

Food

6 min read

Lessons on Black Food History From Rufus Estes’ ‘Good Things to Eat’
Lessons on Black Food History From Rufus Estes’ ‘Good Things to Eat’
Food

6 min read


Published in Heated

·Apr 1, 2020

Nori Brings an Ocean of Freedom to My Kitchen

The dried, salty snack provides at least a taste of it — When I walked through the aisles of my local grocery store in early March and saw stacks of nori, I smiled to myself. The snack made a regular appearance during some of my most memorable experiences in college, and the rollercoaster of young adulthood that followed. I love nori because…

Cooking

4 min read

Nori Brings an Ocean of Freedom to My Kitchen
Nori Brings an Ocean of Freedom to My Kitchen
Cooking

4 min read


Published in Heated

·Updated Dec 20, 2019

The Black History of Eggnog

The spiced drink parallels America’s fraught history with African Americans — Creamy, aromatic eggnog is a staple in American homes during the winter — we consume an estimated 135 million pounds per year, to be exact. Whether served in mugs at holiday parties or paired with whiskey, rum, or brandy, the beverage inevitably makes an appearance on drink menus around Christmastime. …

Food

4 min read

The Black History of Eggnog
The Black History of Eggnog
Food

4 min read


Published in ZORA

·Dec 12, 2019

To Value the Breadth of Black Cuisine, You Have to Photograph It

We need to decolonize what is considered ‘aesthetically pleasing’ food — If you’re looking for Black or West African food on iStock, you might have some trouble. A search for “Black food” or “African American food” pulls up a range of random results: a few Black Americans cooking or eating, an image of coffee beans, and a graphic of a hamburger…

Food

6 min read

To Value the Breadth of Black Cuisine, You Have to Photograph It
To Value the Breadth of Black Cuisine, You Have to Photograph It
Food

6 min read


Published in Heated

·Oct 30, 2019

Reverence Starts With Putting Down Your Phone

Chef-owner Russell Jackson wants you to be present when you’re visiting his Harlem restaurant — It was a chilly Friday night, just one day after the death of beloved U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings, when I walked into Reverence in Harlem’s Strivers’ Row and read a welcome card emblazoned with a quote from the Baltimore congressman: “I’m going to do what feeds my soul.” If Russell…

Food

4 min read

Reverence Starts With Putting Down Your Phone
Reverence Starts With Putting Down Your Phone
Food

4 min read


Published in Heated

·Sep 19, 2019

In Celebrating 400 Years of African Resilience, I Found a Culinary Masterpiece

In search of one dish, I found another — When I flew to Ghana during the Year of Return, I hoped to learn more about Ghanaian dishes. …

Food

8 min read

In Celebrating 400 Years of African Resilience, I Found a Culinary Masterpiece
In Celebrating 400 Years of African Resilience, I Found a Culinary Masterpiece
Food

8 min read


Published in ZORA

·Aug 8, 2019

The West African Comfort Food No One Can Resist

Tracing the importance of peanuts in the diaspora back to Ghana’s groundnut soup — It’s hard to understate the importance of peanuts in food around the world. …

Food

6 min read

The West African Comfort Food No One Can Resist
The West African Comfort Food No One Can Resist
Food

6 min read

Kayla Stewart

Kayla Stewart

261 Followers

Kayla Stewart is a freelance journalist from Houston, and is currently based in Harlem.

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