Here's a wonderful find from our local library:
Bring Me Some Apples and I'll Make You a Pie: A Story about Edna Lewis, by Robbin Gourley.
Great book that follows young Edna Lewis (later a famous chef and champion of regional American cooking) through the seasons as she and her family harvest the bounty of gardens, forests, wild meadows, and orchards, and plot what delicious dishes they're going to make from their gatherings.
After breakfast, Edna and her sister head out to the fields to pick wild strawberries, the first of the season.
Mama says, "Better hurry! You'll need to outrun the rabbits to get all the berries."
Daddy says, "Fill as many baskets as you can. Larder's empty."
Sister says, "One for the basket and one to taste!"
Edna says, "There'll be strawberry shortcake for dessert tonight!"
We don't even HAVE a garden and Mary Jane wanted to hear this book over and over and over. I don't know if I will buy a copy or not, knowing that it will always be in the library up the street, but I heartily recommend it. It made me hungry. Great pictures, too, and a portrait of a loving extended family.
Hello -
I am a filmmaker in Atlanta. I just wanted to let you know I produced a 21 minute documentary about Miss Edna Lewis. The film is called "Fried Chicken and Sweet Potato Pie".
It is viewable in its entirety on Internet at a Gourmet Magazine website:
http://www.gourmet.com/magazine/video/2008/01/Edna
and at this Library of Virginia website:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cl6JVMoMN44&feature=channel_page
My website, http://bbarash.com/bb_friedchicken.htm
has more information about the film and the story of Miss Lewis.
Sincerely,
Bailey Barash
Posted by: Bailey Barash | 03 March 2010 at 12:28 AM