© 2024 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY
WECS · WEDW-FM · WNPR · WPKT · WRLI-FM · WVOF
Public Files Contact · ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

The Life and Legacy of Southern Cook Edna Lewis

Edna Lewis turned her 'Taste for Country Cooking' into a trend-setting 1976 book of essays and simple menus.
Edna Lewis turned her 'Taste for Country Cooking' into a trend-setting 1976 book of essays and simple menus.

The first lady of southern cooking, Edna Lewis, was laid to rest this morning in Unionville, Va., at the age of 89.

Her 1976 cookbook The Taste of Country Cooking was an eloquent tribute to farm life, and the bonding power of food. Those essays, combined with simple, yet elegant menus, transformed the way people looked at southern cooking.

In her later years, Lewis had a special relationship with Atlanta chef Scott Peacock. Together they penned a lovely cookbook called The Gift of Southern Cooking. Food writer John T. Edge, who studied under Lewis, discusses her legacy with Debbie Elliott.

Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Stand up for civility

This news story is funded in large part by Connecticut Public’s Members — listeners, viewers, and readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

We hope their support inspires you to donate so that we can continue telling stories that inform, educate, and inspire you and your neighbors. As a community-supported public media service, Connecticut Public has relied on donor support for more than 50 years.

Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are building a better—and more civil—Connecticut to live, work, and play.