The Rich Diversity of Southern Food with Michael Twitty

The Rich Diversity of Southern Food with Michael Twitty

January 13, 2026 · 52 min · Episode 58

About this episode

Andrew Camp talks with culinary historian Michael Twitty about the diversity of Southern food and its cultural significance.

In this episode of The Biggest Table, host Andrew Camp engages in a rich conversation with Michael Twitty, a renowned culinary historian, food writer, and author of acclaimed works such as ' The Cooking Gene ' and ' Kosher Soul .' Twitty provides insightful commentary on his journey and his role in culinary history, emphasizing the significance of food as a medium for experiencing and expressing cultural identity, spirituality, and community. They discuss the broad and diverse nature of Southern cuisine, its historical context, and the intertwining of various cultures that shape it. The discussion also touches upon the challenges faced by people of color in getting their culinary stories published, and Twitty's motivations behind writing his latest cookbook, ' Recipes from the American South .' The episode underscores the profound connections between food, culture, and empathy, as well as the importance of storytelling in preserving culinary heritage. Michael W. Twitty is an acclaimed culinary historian, and author of the two-times James Beard Award-winning book The Cooking Gene , as well as Rice and Koshersoul . He has written for many publications and been featured throughout…

People in this episode

Host: Andrew Camp

Guest: Michael Twitty

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Guardian, The New York Times, The Washington Post, PBS, NPR, Taste the Nation, High on the Hog

Books & works: The Cooking Gene, Kosher Soul, Recipes from the American South

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