Michael Twitty and the culinary history of America
Michael Twitty visited the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum on Wednesday, as the last speaker in the Museum’s Chesapeake Foodways demonstration/lecture series. A culinary historian and writer, Twitty is essentially, a product of our Maryland history come alive in today’s world. He traces the history of his enslaved ancestors through foodways and culinary traditions, and tells real stories of real people in our Maryland and American past. A fascinating speaker who is doing critically important work, Michael Twitty is definitely a national treasure.
Last summer at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum’s Folk Festival, I watched Twitty wrap a rockfish in collard green leaves, and cook it inside of a ground fire on one of the hottest days of the year. On Wednesday, he prepared sweet potatoes, ashcake, and okra and crab soup on a ground fire. To read some of these stories in my piece on the Talbot Spy called African Roots of Chesapeake Foodways – click here.
This is fascinating and incredibly important. Thank you for posting. I also just read your article on the Talbot Spy – beautifully written! When will Michael visit our area again?
Addendum – I answered my own question.
It looks like he will be back in May! http://michaelwilliamtwitty.com/appearances.html
Thanks, Amanda! YES – Michael Twitty will be BACK at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum for another demonstration on Saturday, May 5th on Frederick Douglass Day – go ahead and mark your calendars, friends – Mr. Twitty is worth driving for.
Fascinating!