An Evening with Michael Twitty: Recipes from the American South
An Evening with Michael Twitty: Recipes from the American South
March 19, 2026 @ 07:00pm
Join Award-winning author Michael W. Twitty and moderator Sam Chapple-Sokol for an evening discussing Recipes from the American South.
ABOUT THE COOKBOOK
A home cook’s guide to one of America’s most diverse and delicious – cuisines, from James Beard Award-winning author and culinary historian Michael W. Twitty
In the introduction to this groundbreaking recipe collection, acclaimed historian Michael W. Twitty declares, ‘No one state or area can give you the breadth of the Southern story or fully set the Southern table.’ To answer this, Recipes from the American South journeys from the Louisiana Bayou to the Chesapeake Bay, showcasing more than 260 of the region’s most beloved dishes.
Across more than 400 pages, Twitty explores the broad culinary sweep that Southern history and its many cultures represent. Recipes for breads and biscuits, mains and sides, stews, sauces, and sweets feature insightful headnotes and clear, step-by-step instructions. Home cooks will discover both iconic dishes and lesser-known specialties: Chicken and Dumplings, She-crab Soup, Red Eye Gravy, Benne Seed Wafers, Hummingbird Cake, and Mint Juleps appear alongside Shrimp Pilau, Chorizo Dirty Rice, Sumac Lemonade, and Cajun Pig’s Ears Pastry. A masterful storyteller, Twitty enriches his extensive recipe collection with lyrical, deeply researched essays that celebrate the region’s “multicultural gumbo” of influences from immigrants from across the globe. Vibrant food photography adds further color to the fascinating narrative.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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 print and broadcast media, including the Guardian, The New York Times, The Washington Post, PBS, and NPR’s The Splendid Table. He has given over 500 public talks and appeared in numerous series, including Taste the Nation and High on the Hog.
ABOUT THE MODERATOR
Sam Chapple-Sokol is a James Beard Award-winning and New York Times-bestselling writer who focuses on food, storytelling, and culture. He's worked as editorial director for José Andrés' restaurant group and the nonprofit World Central Kitchen, where he co-authored The World Central Kitchen Cookbook. He's also a lecturer at George Washington University, where he teaches a course about culinary diplomacy. Sam has worked in restaurants and kitchens throughout his career, including as a sommelier, a cheesemonger, and a pastry chef at the White House (during the Obama years!). He’s about to publish another cookbook with José Andrés, Spain My Way (Ecco, May 2026).
