I shamelessly love watermelon — preferably old-school WITH SEEDS!! ( special shoutout to some of the Black watermelon growers and vendors who make that still possible! 🙌🏾🙌🏾)… like the BLACK SEED watermelon sellers who set up camp each Sunday here in Park Slope Brooklyn (on the corner of 5th Ave & 4th street):
Today may be #watermelonDay but remember it’s #watermelonMONTH all August long!
These are just a few of the myriad ways i've photo documented enjoying this versatile fruit — that’s originally from AfrIca, cultivated, revered and widely utilized by our shared ancestors, who introduced it to other cultures and continents over the centuries. It nutrates (yup i just made up that word) AND hydrates at the same time... A real watermelon (old-school with seeds) is satisfyingly delicious whether served up at room temp, cold, hot or grilled, in a salad or spaced out on an hors d'oeuvres tray with a drizzle of honey and a toothpick in each sweet bite-sized square. Or perhaps served up more savory with a touch of #realsalt or a spritz of soy sauce, or just sliced up (naturally!) sweet and fresh... and yes of course, puréed or cubed and soaked in a good quality spirit of your choice [ya’ll know i’m all about the MEZCAL right now (Eléctrico especially) … and converted to a creative cocktail 🍹🍉🍹 🍉
You can see i have a lot to say and share about the oft overlooked significance of watermelon, just one of the mother continent’s countless gifts to the world. Its ancient African history, the critical role it played in both the enslaved and emancipated communities here in America and throughout the New World. And yes — the horrific ways it was appropriated and whitewashed, with enduring repercussions to this day…
SOOOO if you’re in or anywhere near Brooklyn on August 25th you should definitely come CHECK OUT this upcoming Reclaiming Watermelon Picnic event I’m co-hosting at the Lefferts Historic House on Sunday 8/25/24 2pm-7pm:
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Today’s also JAMAICAN 🇯🇲 PATTY DAY!
which is celebrated each year (in America, Jamaica and prolly in the UK and Canada too).. on the first Saturday in August ….
FYI for all the global food history buffs: in episode #3 of “Chasing Flavor with Carla Hall” that came out earlier this year and is streaming on HBO/MAX, during a dinner party scene at Carla’s, I craftily connect the culinary dots between the American pot pie and the Jamaican patty…
It’s such a wonderfully done culinary mini series (no and not just ‘cause i’m in it LOL) and I honestly don’t understand why HBO/ MAX isn’t promoting it more. Anyway, check it out (all 6 episodes! ) ENJOY! and I’d love to hear what ya’ll think…
THROWBACK to the 2017 post i did for @GoodWineNYC the day my friend (shop owner & chef Heather ) made home-made Jamaican beef patties (yup she’s 3rd gen Jamaican heritage) and they paired perfectly with an array of curated (GOOD) wines…
