Mac n’ Cheese is an all time favorite of ours, but Kelly did not realize that Darryl didn’t grow up with it as an “everyday food” until we recorded this episode. We investigate how Black culture made this food a special occasion dish and perfected it in a way that made it exceptional enough to serve it at Thanksgiving and Christmas.
We go all the way back to 1AD and trace the history of this pasta and cheese dish all the way through colonization, emancipation, and the era of soul food. Darryl cooks the mac n’ cheese he grew up with, which was one of the first dishes he helped out with in the kitchen, and we talk about our love for Tillamook cheese.
Sources for E8. Black n’ Cheese
THE HIDDEN HISTORY OF MACARONI AND CHEESE
The History of Slavery in the Cultivation of Mac & Cheese From Elitist Dish to Cultural Staple
Soul Food: The Surprising Story of an American Cuisine, One Plate at a Time
Butter Pecan Pod 