Episode #18
Who Gets to Define Southern Food? Guest Chef Ashleigh Shanti
James Beard Award-winning chef and author Ashleigh Shanti joins This Conversation Matters host Sheree R. Curry for a conversation about Black Southern food, culture and creativity. Shanti explores how geography, migration and family traditions have shaped distinct cuisines across the South and why foods once dismissed as inexpensive or working-class fare are increasingly being celebrated on high-end menus. The Our South: Black Food Through My Lens author also challenges the expectation that Black chefs must connect everything they create to their ancestry. Sometimes, she says, a chef should simply have the freedom to create. Shanti also reflects on Top Chef , her James Beard Award and being named to the TIME100 Next. See the video version on YouTube @ShereeCurryMedia https://www.youtube.com/@ShereeCurryMedia Takeaways Culinary inspiration from family and regional influences The importance of preserving and celebrating regional cuisine and cultural history Community support is crucial for small businesses Recognition and accolades are significant milestones for chefs Chapters 00:00 The Journey to Good Hot Fish 03:05 Early Culinary Influences 05:23 Our South: Black Food Through My Lens 07:51 Regional Cuisine and Cultural Significance 18:55 The Shift in Culinary Narratives 23:05 Preserving Cultural History Through Food 28:19 Top Chef Experience 30:39 Building a Community 31:09 Winning Restaurant Wars 33:53 Charlotte's Culinary Scene 36:42 Exploring Asheville 38:38 Accolades and Recognition 42:24 Food as Medicine 45:20 Cultural Heritage and Food 49:16 Planning a Podcast Episode
