839: A Journey Through Southern Food with Michael W. Twitty and Deb Freeman

This week, we’re taking a trip through the South and its food – how it tells the story of a region shaped by migration, memory, and culture. First, we talk with scholar and writer Michael W. Twitty about his new book, Recipes from the American South, a sweeping look at the many communities – Black, white, Indigenous, immigrant – whose traditions built Southern cooking as we know it. Michael reflects on the histories that define the region and leaves us with his recipe for Maque Choux, the Louisiana classic made of corn and peppers. Then, we turn to writer and filmmaker Deb Freeman for a deeper look at one of the South’s most influential voices: Edna Lewis. Her new PBS documentary, Finding Edna Lewis, traces how Miss Lewis’s rural Virginia roots shaped her cooking and her revolutionary impact on American food. Deb shares why Lewis remains essential today and what we can still learn from her.

Our annual cookbook giveaway is live!  To enter for free, visit splendidtable.org/cookbook

Broadcast dates for this episode: 

• December 5, 2025 (originally aired)

Subscribe to @TheSplendidTable on YouTube for full podcast episodes and full-length video interviews!

Donate to The Splendid Table today and we will show our appreciation with a special thank-you gift.