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Juneteenth: Distant Relatives host meal at Meanwhile Brewing
Damien Brockway, head chef of Distant Relatives, celebrates Juneteenth by exploring Black culinary heritage. Brockway asserts that Juneteenth, a commemoration of emancipation, deserves the pride of all Americans.
Published June 17, 2024 at 7:01am by Matthew Odam
Distant Relatives Serves up Barbecue with a Side of African-American History
Damien Brockway, former fine dining chef, now runs Distant Relatives, a barbecue truck exploring the foodways of the African diaspora and its connection to African-American cuisine.
“It’s important to everybody...[i]t ended at this time...[we] decided that actually everybody does deserve to be free.”
Juneteenth Collaboration:
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Brockway, along with private chef Matthew Brown of Comfort Table Kitchen, will create a special menu for Juneteenth.
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Kasalina Plater of Stellaheart Dessert Co. will provide pecan pie bars.
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The menu includes crispy chicken, a nod to St. Louis, and ribs with a dry rub inspired by Memphis, with sides of beef brisket, fresh corn grits, watermelon salad, and turnip greens.
When: Wednesday, all day
Where: 3901 Promontory Point Drive, Austin, TX (at Meanwhile Brewing)
Cost: A la carte pricing
Distant Relatives is not just about food, but also an educational journey into African-American history and food culture, with recommended reading:
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"The Cooking Gene" by Michael Twitty, a personal journey intertwining genealogy, genetics, and culinary history.
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"High on the Hog: A Culinary Journey from Africa to America" by Jessica B. Harris, a detailed account from Africa to the US, also a Netflix show.
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"Recipes for Respect: African American Meals and Meaning" by Rafia Zafar, focusing on African-American hospitality and early black-owned businesses, a unique perspective often overlooked.
Read more: Distant Relatives' Damien Brockway hosts Juneteenth meal at Meanwhile Brewing food truck