Culinary Colonialism, Caribbean Cookbooks, and Recipes for National Independence
Exploring the intersection of food, culture, and independence
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Rutgers University Press
Published:16th Feb '24
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This insightful exploration of Caribbean cookbooks reveals their deep cultural significance, showcasing how Culinary Colonialism intertwines food with identity and independence.
This book offers an in-depth exploration of Caribbean cookbooks, highlighting their significance beyond mere recipes. Culinary Colonialism, Caribbean Cookbooks, and Recipes for National Independence delves into how these cookbooks have served as a medium for women, and occasionally men, to navigate and challenge the complexities of colonial and domestic structures. Since the early nineteenth century, Caribbean cookbooks have not only documented culinary practices but have also played a crucial role in shaping national identities and cultural narratives.
The narrative presents a unique perspective on how food writing intersects with critical issues such as race, class, gender, and nationality. Through the lens of Culinary Colonialism, readers will discover how these texts have been instrumental in articulating the flavors of independence and the quest for domestic autonomy. The author integrates new documents into the Caribbean archive, providing a comprehensive view that encompasses diverse voices and experiences across the region.
In addition to theoretical insights, the book features a selection of recipes that showcase the rich tapestry of culinary traditions found in the Caribbean. These recipes not only reflect local ingredients and techniques but also embody the cultural exchanges and historical contexts that have shaped Caribbean cuisines. Culinary Colonialism ultimately invites readers to savor the intricate connections between food, culture, and national identity.
"Drawing on a fascinating range of Caribbean texts and case studies, Culinary Colonialism shows how cookbooks have historically been at the heart of projects such as women’s organization, nation building and decolonization in the region. Valens' global focus and her interdisciplinary approach in this book provide new and exciting insights into how more recent Caribbean cookbooks continue to 'migrate and circulate' through the Caribbean diaspora and to intersect with twenty-first century issues such as geopolitics, climate disaster, and new media. Combining recipes and scholarly analysis, this is a book for all those interested in the Caribbean, in Food Studies and in the burgeoning study of the intersections between the two."
— Sarah Lawson Welsh, author of Food, Text and Culture in the Anglophone Caribbean
"A fascinating exploration of Caribbean creolization, anti-colonialism, and nationhood through the stories and concoctions of women who write and cook: 'kitchen poets,' Barbadian American novelist Paule Marshall would have called them." — Valérie Loichot, author of The Tropics Bite Back: Culinary Coups in Caribbean Literature
ISBN: 9781978829558
Dimensions: 254mm x 178mm x 36mm
Weight: 925g
504 pages