a conversation with Nina Williams Mbengue
“Vegetable Kingdom is an altar to our Diasporic ancestors, a legacy offering to our children, and a shrine to the plant friends who nourish us. As a parent, I felt inspired by the ingenious ways that Bryant ‘Blackifies’ uncommon vegetables and makes them kid-friendly. As a Haitian, I felt particularly jubilant as I prepared spicy Pikliz to the steamy Creole love ballad ‘Ou Fe’m’ that Bryant paired with the recipe. As an overworked, time-scarce person, I appreciated the tips for advanced prep on the weekends and inclusion of efficient meals.”—Leah Penniman, co-director of Soul Fire Farm and author of Farming While Black
This week's conversation is with Nina Williams-Mbengue, the niece of culinary legend Chef Edna Lewis. We talk about her relationship with her Aunt Edna, the legacy Chef Lewis left behind for us...and how her Aunt would feel about the current social and political climate that is effecting Black women in food spaces.
Nina is a Senior Fellow on NCSL's Child Welfare Project providing legislative research and policy analysis on child welfare issues for state legislatures, child welfare professionals and the media.
