Thursday, January 21, 2010

Bryant Terry at Yale

As part of Yale's Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday celebration this week, special guest eco-chef, Bryant Terry, gave a lecture and mini cooking demonstration on vegan soul food. He just recently published his second book, Vegan Soul Kitchen, which he was also here to promote.

We arrived early and had front row seats, so it was as if we were hanging out in Bryant's dining room chatting. Though he's down-to-earth and easygoing, he had a serious message.

Food is a part of who you are, and it can become a vehicle for change. He intertwined MLK's message of empowerment throughout his presentation, sharing stories of growing up in Memphis, having an epiphany after hearing KRS-One's song "Beef," burying his mom's roast chicken in the backyard, going to culinary school, and eventually founding a non-profit called Be Healthy which teaches inner city kids about healthy food. It's a great mission. He's passionate, articulate, inspiring and funny.

I'm really happy to have shared afternoon tea with him and the Yale community.

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