I Said What I Said (But I Have More To Say).
Expounding on my recent NYTimes appearance plus info on my upcoming appearances.
Have you read the New York Times article entitled “How Does the Internet’s Most Popular Food Critic Keep Creating Drama?” It discusses the rise and recent stumbles of Keith Lee. It’s a really good read (and not just because I’m quoted in it), so if you’re interested in a more nuanced conversation around—arguably—the world’s most popular food reviewer—this one’s for you.
To be clear, this is not going to be one of those “my words were taken out of context” type of missives. But to be honest, after I read it, I feared that I came off as a malcontent. Korsha Wilson did a wonderful job given the arduous task of summarizing everything Keith Lee means to both Black people, in specific, and the overall food documentation industry, in general, in under 1000 words. So, again, no love lost on her or the work itself. She did a great job! I just want to add a tiny bit of context to the proceedings.
Trimming the fat.
First thing you need to know is that I stand by everything I said. No matter how I come off, I own those words. But what is important to know, or rather, what I think is important to know is that my quotes were part of a much larger discussion on food influencing. Yes, some of what I said during Korsha and my 20 plus minute conversation was specific to Keith but most of what I talked about centered around the industry in general.
Like when I said, “There are people who haven’t been to a cooking class ever, not even a grandma teaching them how to make something trying to tell some chef that they did this wrong,” that was not limited to Keith. Not even in the slightest. If anything, my words were an indictment on the entire system. “Food influencing” has an extremely low barrier of entry, one that does not require actually knowing what the fuck you’re talking about in order to become a leading voice in the space.
As of today, the article has over 185 comments. I haven’t read any of them and don’t plan on doing so. Mostly because I already know what’s going to be there: some people are going to agree 100% with the few quotes attributed to my name while the rest are going to believe that I am a bonafide hater. I’m not wasting a drop of energy trying to convince anyone of anything via the comment section of the New York Times.
I do plan, however, on expounding on what me and Korsha talked about because it is a discussion that (I think) we need to be having. And by “discussion” I mean, “I’m going to make a video about the subject, post it on YouTube, and I hope you respond in the comments”. I’m choosing to go the YouTube route because I really want to make sure I hit all the notes of what, I believe, Keith Lee means to the overall space. I also want room to explore both how I feel about him and where I see the whole food influencer thing going in the future. Without spoiling the goods, I think that a lot of the fuss surrounding Keith Lee is less about him and more about us. Make sure you subscribe to the Black Food Fridays YouTube channel so you catch the video as soon as it drops.
I actually started writing this script soon after my initial conversation with Korsha but I wanted to make sure I read what was written before recording anything. Now that it’s out in the wild, I’ll be finishing the script sooner than later. I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of conversations come from my eventual video.
If you’ve read the article, give me your thoughts in the comments (not just on what I said but on the entire piece itself) and keep reading to see where in the world I’ll be over the next 5 weeks.
Upcoming appearances.
Here’s a run down of where you can find me in the upcoming month. And if you want to book me to host, judge, speak on a panel, or anything like that, makes sure to send me an email at workwithkj AT blackfoodfridays DOT com.
Battle of the Babes.
On September 30th, I have the honor of being a judge for the 4th annual Battle of The Babes Cocktail Competition (Charlotte, NC). Put on by my friend Morgan Robinson, owner of the Hospitality Coalition, this fun-filled event puts some of the best women mixologist in competition with each other to see who can make the best cocktail! It’s like the Highlander, except for woman who know how to make a mean drink. Come to Merchant + Trade (located inside of the Kimpton Tryon Hotel) and see these talented women do their thing!
If you want to hear Morgan talk about her event, join the Black Food Fridays’ Instagram account tomorrow night. I’ll be hosting a LIVE interview with her at 8 PM EST!
Tickets for “Battle of the Babes” are $75 & available via the HoCo. website.
Gullah Geechee Cooridor Heritage Celebration.
Even thought this graphic looks more like my obituary than it does a flyer for the Gullah Geechee Cooridor’s Heritage Celebration, I am very much alive and happy to host this celebration of my culture. The event takes place in the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park in Beaufort (pronounced BEW-fort), South Carolina on October 12th from 10 AM to 4 PM. There will be live performances, storytelling from talented artists representing the entire Gullah Geechee Corridor, cultural exhibits, family friendly activities, and of course delicious cuisine!
Admission for this event is absolutely free! All you need to do is register via their Eventbrite page.
Culinary Creatives Conference.
The very next day (October 13th), I’ll have the privilege of hosting the inaugural Culinary Creatives Conference live in New York City! Presented by the good folks behind one of my favorite apps, EatOrka, this event will bring together all manner of Black food folks for a day of creativity, creation, and community! In addition to seeing me, you’ll hear directly from luminaries like the founder and CEO of Partake Foods Denise Woodard, the co-founder of African Ancestry Dr. Gina Paige, and the founder of one of my favorite spirits, Jackie Summers of Sorel.
Tickets start at $35 and can be found on the Culinary Creatives Conference website.
Southern Foodways Alliance Symposium.
And lastly, on October 27th, I’ll be in Raleigh, North Carolina for the Southern Foodways Alliance Symposium! Just so you know, I’m not hosting anything at this event; I’m just a panelist. But fortunately for you, I’m the Steph Curry of panel discussions so make sure to bring your notebook because I’m sure to drop a few barz! My involvement happens on Sunday, October 27th at the Rialto, 1620 Glenwood Ave. Find me on a panel, discussing the “Importance of Restaurants”, with Khusbu Shah and Andrea Weigl. Our talk will be moderated by James Beard award winning food journalist, Hanna Raskin.
If you made it all the way to the bottom of this post, then please consider subscribing to both my YouTube channel and this newsletter, if you aren’t already! And if you happen to be at any of the aforementioned locations, holla at a playa when you see me in the streets!
