"Now they are the rare discovery of so-called gore-mays,"

March 2, 2018 9:45 AM

Vertamae Smart-Grosvenor Is the Unsung Godmother of American Food Writing.

Vibration Cooking, or The Travel Notes of a Geechee Girl

Vibration Cooking - “When I cook, I never measure or weigh anything; I cook by vibration,” she wrote, by way of explaining the title. “I can tell by the look and smell of it.”

more on Vertamae Smart-Grosvernor

Vertamae Smart-Grosvenor passed away in 2016 at the age of 79.

posted by the man of twists and turns (7 comments total)

Yenna Wanna Nyam Avec Moi? - "Everyone knows that you are what you eat, and most of the time it shows. But where you come from and what your roots are doesn't always show. You just can't tell by looking."
That one looks like it was OCR'd and takes a little decyphering.

A Pot of Goodness - "Ruminating on the many virtues of black-eyed peas"

BLACK-EYED PEAS FOR A PARIS NEW YEAR'S

The grapevine is a real thing. Before I got to St.-Germain des Pres all the Southerners in the cafes nearby came running up to me asking what time dinner would be on New Year's Day? I was tempted to be a little uppity myself to the ones who had acted that way to me when I asked where to get the peas in the first place. But I wasn't. I mean, here we all were thousands of miles from home and I did have the fixings for the traditional New Year's feast and so I might as well let them come. What's a feast with no feasters? It was a wonderful New Year's.

posted by the man of twists and turns at 10:00 AM on March 2, 2018 [3 favorites]

Oh, my gosh, yes. I got Vibration Cooking as a "Good Luck in NYC!" present from one of my best college friends when I graduated. Such a good book, and it's also where I found out about the black-eyes peas tradition. Our family knew nothing about it. I love black-eyes peas.
posted by droplet at 12:14 PM on March 2, 2018

Wow!
posted by The Toad at 1:19 PM on March 2, 2018

Oh cool, I never heard of her. She sounds awesome.
posted by shapes that haunt the dusk at 2:16 PM on March 2, 2018

Back before I could no longer stomach the crypto-right corporatism of NPR, Vertamae Grosvenor segments were peak radio experiences.
posted by jamjam at 7:45 PM on March 2, 2018

Thank you for this post ! It's cathartic and exciting to learn about another American I can be oh so proud of, and learn son much from, even if I'm too late to appreciate her in her lifetime.
posted by Lisitasan at 1:43 AM on March 3, 2018

Book ordered! Thanks for a great post
posted by mumimor at 2:34 AM on March 3, 2018