Thanks to the Seacoast African American Cultural Center for inviting us to help them host a thoughtful and delicious fundraiser on Soul Food. Thanks also to Suzanne Laurent of the Seacoast Online, The Portsmouth Herald, and Katherine Bouzianis of The Port's Mouth for their glowing coverage of the event. You can find links to the coverage below.
Until next time, be well!
(Suzanne Laurent, Seacoast Online)
Samples for a pop up at a New York City club. Recipes from Fillet of Soul: AfroVegan.
Thank you to Slick Rick and all of the guests for an epic ramen battle before a great show!
I had a great talk with Jacqueline over at Dig. Check out her article in Dig Boston (and follow her @jacquelinedole for great pictures of her beautiful pastries).
Posted on
by
On Saturday January 26, Boston’s chef Wheeler Del Torro will take on acclaimed rapper and Yo Gabba Gabba! star Biz Markie in a soul food themed cook-off. Yes, that’s right, Biz Markie.
Unbeknownst to us, Markie has developed a knack for nutrition and now has a career teaching healthy cooking classes.
Just in time for Black History month, the event aims to raise funding for the expansion of Brighton’s3 Scoops Ice Cream Parlor, where Del Torro acts as a menu consultant. The cafe is hoping to broaden its offerings and begin serving healthful, savory soul food classics. The cooking competition will be much like its televised inspiration: a secret ingredient, one hour to prepare the dishes, and a panel of expert judges.
I spoke with Chef Wheeler about his vegan tendencies, D’Jango Unchained, and asked whether Biz is a threat in the kitchen or if he really is, “Just a Friend.”
“I want to break the misconceptions about the vegan diet, the vegan attitude. I’m not a little hipster—I’m a bigger guy,” Del Torro says. He explains that especially today, there are numerous cooking techniques that make consuming meat no longer necessary.
“By enhancing the natural flavor of vegetables with spices and ingredients like truffles, you create healthy dishes that give you energy.”
Describing his style as a twist on soul food and American comfort food, he tells me about “veganizing” dishes that appear on other restaurants menus, such as Red Rooster’s fried yard bird chicken. In addition to putting his interpretation on dishes from today, he’s currently writing a D’jango Unchained-influenced e-cookbook.
But what about Biz?
“Biz has always been interested in healthy eating. Being on tour, he learned to make eating healthy a priority, to stay conscious of his eating,” he explains. “But he’s at a severe disadvantage.”
IRON CHEF BRIGHTON SATURDAY 1.26.13 SOLD OUT 3 SCOOPS CAFÉ 403 WASHINGTON ST. BRIGHTON @BIZMARKIE BIZMARKIECHEFBATTLE.EVENTBRITE.COM
Describing his style as a twist on soul food and American comfort food, he tells me about “veganizing” dishes that appear on other restaurants menus, such as Red Rooster’s fried yard bird chicken. In addition to putting his interpretation on dishes from today, he’s currently writing a D’jango Unchained-influenced e-cookbook.
But what about Biz?
“Biz has always been interested in healthy eating. Being on tour, he learned to make eating healthy a priority, to stay conscious of his eating,” he explains. “But he’s at a severe disadvantage.”
IRON CHEF BRIGHTON SATURDAY 1.26.13 SOLD OUT 3 SCOOPS CAFÉ 403 WASHINGTON ST. BRIGHTON @BIZMARKIE BIZMARKIECHEFBATTLE.EVENTBRITE.COM
Nigerian Street Food Pop Up Fortified by Jump N Funk
The "Felabration" at Drom in NYC seeks to satisfy the five senses with a special Martin Luther King Jr. edition of Jump n Funk. The pop up event features music from DJ Rich Medina, stunning visuals from Mark Hines (The Marksmen), live percussion by Juan Carlos Izaguire and the legendary Leonard "Doc" Gibbs and Afrovegan Nigerian street food from Wheeler del Torro all celebrating legendary musician and activist Fela Kuti.
The pop up is open to bloggers and members of the press. To request an invite, email rayna[at]kitchntable.com.