From the Diversity & Inclusion Committee

For our first Black History Month Fun Friday, we are focusing on Good Eats! Following is some great information on the roots of soul food, recipes to share, one to make with the kids and local black-owned restaurants to support!

Soul food is one of the most popular and recognizable types of cooking coming out of the United States. For centuries, Black Americans have passed on hearty, sumptuous recipes that have marked many a special occasion. If you are thinking of pork ribs, collard greens, fried chicken, cornbread, red beans and rice and macaroni and cheese, you are on the right track. Beyond these common favorites, there is a wealth of delicious dishes influenced by African, Caribbean, Creole and other traditions.

History: During the Transatlantic Slave Trade, enslaved African people were given meager food rations that were low in quality and nutritional value. With these rations, enslaved people preserved African food traditions and adapted traditional recipes with the resources available. Over time, these recipes and techniques have become the soul food dishes we are familiar with today. This food genre, now associated with comfort and decadence, was born out of struggle and survival.

Importance: Soul food has a rich and important history that ties Black culture to its African roots, and that history is deeply reflected in the staple recipes and techniques. Read more about the Humble History of Soul Food.



FUN FACT: Meaning of "Soul Food."

The term “soul food” didn’t become common until the 1960s. With the rise of the civil rights and black nationalist movements during the 1960s, many Black Americans sought to reclaim their part of the American cultural legacy. As terms like “soul brother,” “soul sister,” and “soul music” were being used, and people began to use the term “soul food” to describe the recipes that Black Americans had been cooking for generations. The term may have first been used in 1962 by civil rights activist and poet Amiri Baraka. Sylvia Woods opened her now-famous Harlem restaurant Sylvia’s in that same year. Today, Woods is known by many as “the queen of Soul Food.”

Some Great Chicago Area Black-Owned Restaurants

• Caribbean American Bakery (A W&D Client!) - Chicago, IL
• Big Ed’s BBQ & Bar – Waukegan, IL
• Da Jerk Pit - Evanston, IL
• Jerk N’ More – Waukegan, IL
• Hecky’s Barbeque – Evanston, IL
• Smokin BBQ on 45 – Mundelein, IL
• Dada’s Soul – Zion, IL
• 6978 Soul Food – Chicago, IL

Looking for more? 115 Black-Owned Restaurants In Chicago Area You Can Support Right Now