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:

• Brockway, along with private chef Matthew Brown of Comfort Table Kitchen, will create a special menu for Juneteenth.

• Kasalina Plater of Stellaheart Dessert Co. will provide pecan pie bars.

• 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:

• "The Cooking Gene" by Michael Twitty, a personal journey intertwining genealogy, genetics, and culinary history.

• "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.

• "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.