18.5: Letter From The Editor

Today's episode is about the inventor, entrepreneur, electrician, Army Veteran and innovator that was Frederick McKinley Jones. Known to hold up to 61 patents before his death. His works span the fields of refrigeration, engineering, and audio visual. A true testament that you don't have to always start at the bottom. It is possible to take what you know at the top and work your way back to a stronger foundation. Frederick McKinley Jones, Inventor born - African American Registry (aaregistry.org) Lineage | Black History in the Cold Chain: Frederick McKinley Jones (onelineage.com) Frederick McKinley Jones (1893-1961) • (blackpast.org) RECOMMENDED READING: Cooking For The Culture - Toya Boudy Cooking for the Culture: Recipes and Stories from the New Orleans Streets to the Table: Boudy, Toya: 9781682687451: Amazon.com: Books New Orleans Chef, Author, & Culinarian (toyaboudy.com)

Tomorrow, we kick of Black History Month for the 2024, which means it's time to talk about some of the creatives, innovators and shapeshifters that contributed to some of the foundational work in the food, beverage & hospitality industry. It's going to be a wild ride so strap in!!!

Majority of my career, I was expected to put up with nonsense, clean up what had been the normal mediocrity, learn every position, fill in everyone's gaps at the expense of my well being and self respect. This was part of the reason why I knew if I was going to continue to be in this business, I was going to have to give myself the lane to create my own narrative.  Its not my space to save everyone else's world at the expense of your own. 

The chef, the activist, the woman, the scholar. Today, we are going to talk about one of my personal heroes, Mrs. Leah Chase.  Recommended Reading: All Things Leah related Amazon.com: Leah Chase: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle

A small bit of insight into FDR's White House Chef.  Recommended Reading: The President's Kitchen Cabinet by Adrian Miller The President's Kitchen Cabinet: The Story of the African Americans Who Have Fed Our First Families, from the Washingtons to the Obamas: Miller, Adrian: 9781469632537: Amazon.com: Books

Today, we are going to talk about a Tulsa, Oklahoma native who fused the journeys she had in life with the food that was created along the way in her memoirs aptly titled, "Cleora's Kitchen."  Recommended Reading:  Jubilee by Toni-Tipton Martin Jubilee (Recipes from Two Centuries of African American Cooking): Tipton-Martin, Toni: 9781524761738: Amazon.com: Books

Today, we’re gonna discuss someone Texas specific.

Happy February you guys!! Welcome to a special segment that we call "Something Borrowed, Something Black, Oftentimes Blue" where we're going to talk about history of black food and how it influences current culture, community and the life and food around us as we know it. Every day I will bring you a  person of the past that has shaped someone in the future (including myself) as well as tagging on some recommended art to indulge in afterwards to further your understanding and education.  The Cooking Gene – A Journey Through African American Culinary History in the Old South

We need to address some things this blustery morning. 

I am a firm believer in things happening for a particular reason and it just so happens that when I took myself to the Farmer's Market some months back to clear my head and perhaps be inspired, I came across this young lady with some of the best ice cream I have ever had.  Lavender Cookies N' Cream to be specific. It was rich, creamy, well balanced, utterly delicious and also dairy free. I made a point to reach out to her to pick her brain and get her on the 'cast for you guys. We talked about her journey into Entrepreneurship, the importance of pulling in the core of who you are and what you want to represent into your product, the topsy turvy life of trying balance professional with personal affairs, her R&D process as well as some steps she made to get into the wholesale space.  Please familiarize yourself with Ms. Chi Ndika & the wonderful products she makes at Luv Fats Ice Cream. And if you're in the Austin area, find one of these spots and try it all out for yourself. Luv Fats Ice Cream FB:Luv Fats Ice Cream | Facebook IG:Luv Fats Ice cream (@luvfatsicecream) • Instagram photos and videos Locatins to Purchase: Bee Grocery - 1001 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702 Happy Cactus - 5700 Menchaca Rd, Austin, TX 78745 Barrett's Coffee - 713 W St Johns Ave, Austin, TX 78752 Hyatt Regency - 208 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704 Try Hard Coffee - 1115 E 11th St, Austin, TX 78702 East 1st Grocery - 1811 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702 Mozart's Coffee Roasters - 3825 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin, TX 78703 And as I mentioned before, you can find her at the Mueller's Farmer's Market on Sundays.