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Therese Nelson on Muck Rack

Therese Nelson

(She/Her)
New York
As seen in: Black Culinary History, Allrecipes, The Kitchn, Southern Living Magazine, EatingWell, First We Feast, TASTE Cooking
Covers:  Black Identity, Black Foodways, Professional Cooking, African Atlantic Foodways, American Dining, Culinary History
Chef. Writer. Podcast Host. Steward of Black Culinary History.
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Therese Nelson’s Journalist Portfolio

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The book "High on the Hog" nourished me as a Black chef when "New American Cuisine" had no place ...

The book "High on the Hog" nourished me as a Black chef when "New American Cuisine" had no place ...

When even other Black chefs said I had to go French or Italian to make it, Jessica B. Harris' writing taught …

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Maroon: Musings on Fugitivity

Maroon: Musings on Fugitivity

Black foodways is a fugitive space that offers cultural respite from the rest of the world and this essay exp…

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Cookbooks, Not Restaurants, Are Giving Black Foodways An Identity

Cookbooks, Not Restaurants, Are Giving Black Foodways An Identity

I remember the first time I ever heard Etta James Sing "At Last." I'd never really understood the blues on an…

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Hot Sauce in My Veins

Hot Sauce in My Veins

A few years ago, Beyoncé made an offhand comment in a lyric extolling the virtues of readily available hot sa…

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The Origins and Traditions of Kwanzaa-Plus the Delicious Ways People Celebrate Today

The Origins and Traditions of Kwanzaa-Plus the Delicious Ways People Celebrate Today

Kwanzaa is a holiday that evolves with the times and has a particular resonance in this era of social change.…

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She Rewrote the History of American Cooking

She Rewrote the History of American Cooking

Toni Tipton-Martin introduced the forgotten founders of black cooking. Now she’s showing us what they cooked.

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Michael Twitty Wants Us to Savor the South Through Rice

Michael Twitty Wants Us to Savor the South Through Rice

We independently select these products-if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. I met Mich…

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The Story of Georgia Gilmore: This Montgomery, Alabama Cook Helped Fund the Civil Rights Movement

The Story of Georgia Gilmore: This Montgomery, Alabama Cook Helped Fund the Civil Rights Movement

In searching for the legacy of Georgia Gilmore, you will find the soul of American cuisine. It's 1955 and Mon…

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The Life-Affirming Blackness of Southern Cakes and Pies

The Life-Affirming Blackness of Southern Cakes and Pies

Dolester Miles winning the James Beard Award for Outstanding Pastry Chef is the culmination of a long road tr…

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My Crush on George Washington Carver

My Crush on George Washington Carver

A botanist, chemist, professor, and tireless advocate for African-American empowerment, he was the Beyoncé of…

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The New Agenda of Black Chefs in America

The New Agenda of Black Chefs in America

I am BLACK. I luxuriate in my blackness. From my hair, to my art, to my politics, I live a life steeped to th…

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6 Black Cooks and Writers Pay Tribute to the Culinary Heroes Who Shaped Their Food Journeys

6 Black Cooks and Writers Pay Tribute to the Culinary Heroes Who Shaped Their Food Journeys

In 2008, I was in the middle of a mini-career crisis. The economy was down turning, and I began asking myself…

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Black Culinary History Year in Review 2015

Black Culinary History Year in Review 2015

When I thought about what I wanted to contribute to this year's Kwanzaa Culinarians collection I knew immedia…

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Out of Our Past

Out of Our Past

"We begin with history" - Dr. Nikky Finney, Nation al Book Awards opening line from her 2011 Acceptance Speec…

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An Ode to Carver and a Chance to Win a Prize from Peanut Butter and Co.

An Ode to Carver and a Chance to Win a Prize from Peanut Butter and Co.

I have to admit that I have a huge historical crush on George Washington Carver. I love the spirit he brought…

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