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Soul food vs. Southern food, what's the difference? History, culture and appropriation - USA Today
Fried chicken, biscuits and mac and cheese are all notable dishes that can be found in both Southern and soul food. But what's the difference between these two very similar cuisines? Some say history, culture and maybe even appropriation.
Candace Boyd Wylie, a cook and blogger at The FoodLoveTog believes that the differences between soul food and Southern food runs deeper than variations in recipes or dishes.
Wylie says she thinks of soul food and Southern food as cousins that are heavily influenced by each other, however, soul food was birthed first and was created as a result of the slave trade.
"Traditionally slaves were given the worst and the last of the last — the tougher cuts of meat. Its roots are Southern because of where slavery was rooted and prevalent. When most people hear the term 'soul food,' they think black, and oftentimes I agree," Wylie told USA TODAY in an email.
Fried chicken, biscuits and mac and cheese are all notable dishes that can be found in both Southern and soul food. But what's the difference between these two very similar cuisines? Some say history, culture and maybe even appropriation.
Candace Boyd Wylie, a cook and blogger at The FoodLoveTog believes that the differences between soul food and Southern food runs deeper than variations in recipes or dishes.
Wylie says she thinks of soul food and Southern food as cousins that are heavily influenced by each other, however, soul food was birthed first and was created as a result of the slave trade.
"Traditionally slaves were given the worst and the last of the last — the tougher cuts of meat. Its roots are Southern because of where slavery was rooted and prevalent. When most people hear the term 'soul food,' they think black, and oftentimes I agree," Wylie told USA TODAY in an email.