Cornbread Nation 1: The Best of Southern Food Writing

Cornbread Nation Series #1

by John Egerton, John T. Edge

The first volume in what will be an annual collection, Cornbread Nation gathers the best of recent Southern food writing. In fifty-one entries--original features and selections previously published in magazines and journals--contributors celebrate the people, places, traditions, and tastes of the American South.

In these pages, Nikki Giovanni expresses her admiration for the legendary Edna Lewis, James Villas remembers his friend Craig Claiborne, Rick Bragg thinks back on Thanksgivings at home, Robert Morgan describes the rituals of canning time, and Fred Chappell offers a contrarian's view of iced tea. "Collectively," writes John Egerton, these pieces "buttress our conviction that nothing else the South has to offer to the nation and the world--with the possible exception of its music--is more eternally satisfying, heartwarming, reconciling, and memorable than its food." With the publication of Cornbread Nation, we acknowledge with gratitude the abiding centrality of food in the ongoing life of the South.

Contributors include: Colman Andrews, Jim Auchmutey, Roy Blount Jr., Gene Bourg, Rick Bragg, Fred Chappell, Lolis Eric Elie, Damon Lee Fowler, Nikki Giovanni, Jessica Harris, Karen Hess, Jack Hitt, Ted & Matthew Lee, Ronni Lundy, Robert Morgan, James Villas, and Robb Walsh.

Genres: Food, Cookbooks, Nonfiction, Essays, Food Writing, Food and Drink, Cooking

272 pages, Paperback

First published October 14, 2002

Reviews

[Mskarla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m obsessed with Southern food and its related culture. This was a great addition to my reading and I hope to get my hands on later versions. The article on women’s economy tied to their butter and egg money was especially interesting and fun.

[Fishface · Rating 4 out of 5]

First in what is shaping up to be a great series. Where CN2 made me crave (for some weird reason) smoked Trout, this one is making me want to hunt up something, anything, made with a cornmeal base -- which makes sense considering this is all about the lore and methods of southern cooking. Highly recommended.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like collections of good writing. This is fun to read and makes you want to eat.

[Hillary roberts]

http://purplemoonmyst.wordpress.com/2...

[Kerith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A complete delight.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great stories but not a book I'd ever read straight through. Back on the shelf it goes for times when I want a dose of Southern.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love books that make me equally hungry and homesick, and this one certainly applies.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book of essays on two things I love: food, and southern culture.

[Laine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yum.