There are cookbooks, and then there are cultural documents—books that feel like they’re doing more than sharing ingredients and techniques. They’re preserving something sacred. Braided Heritage by Dr. Jessica B. Harris is firmly in that second category. From the very first page, this book took my breath away.
Dr. Harris, a renowned food historian and storyteller, invites us to consider American cuisine not as a single stream but as a braid—woven together from Indigenous, African, and European traditions. That image—the braid—is more than a metaphor. It’s an effective imagery for understanding how cultures came together, blended, and formed what we now know as “American food.” This is not just a cookbook. It’s a master class in food history.
If you’ve ever wondered about the true origins of the meals, we so often take for granted, the introduction portion of this book alone is worth the price of the book. Harris writes with clarity, reverence, and wisdom. She peels the layers of the over simplistic concept of “American cuisine” and replaces it with a far richer, more accurate narrative. And she does so without losing the warmth— like a conversation with a friend— that makes reading a good cookbook feel like sitting at your grandmother’s kitchen table.
As a foodie who is always curious about “Where did this recipe come from?,” I appreciate that each recipe in Braided Heritage is rooted in story. They are dishes passed down through time, shaped by life. You don’t just learn how to cook in these pages—you learn why we cook, and for whom. From comforting stews to celebratory sweets, every bite is a reflection of lives lived, lands crossed, and love carried forward.
Some of the recipes that caught my eye and want to try:
Clear Broth Clam Chowder
Clam Pie
Traditional Cinnamon Shortbread Cookies
Charleston Okra Soup
Huguenot Torte
Johhny Cakes
Salmon Poached in Milk
Sardine Sandwiches (I am a HUGE fan of sardines)
Old-Fashioned Sweet Potato Cake
As someone who studied history and has a deep love for food shaped by my own family traditions, this book feels deeply personal. And I think it’s why I couldn’t put it down. It’s the kind of work that makes you pause—not just to savor a recipe, but to reflect on where your own food stories come from. It’s a book I can’t wait to add to my library, not only as a source of culinary inspiration, but as a record. A braid of cuisine legacy that must be preserved and passed on.
Braided Heritage is a powerful reminder that food is never just food. It is culture. It is history. It is identity. And most of all, it is memory.
Thank you, NetGalley, Dr. Harris and Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read this ARC. It was a wonderful experience.
Book Link-Ups I Enjoy Joining
It’s Monday, What Are You Reading? at The Book Date
Top Ten Tuesday at The Artsy Reader
The Friday56 at My Heads if Full of Books
Book Beginnings on Friday at Rose City Reader
First Line Friday at Reading in My Superpower
Stacking the Shelves at Reading Reality
Sunday Post at Caffeinated Book Reviewer
Monthly Round-Up at Feed Your Fiction Addiction
Foodies Read at Based on a True Story (monthly)