Oxford American # 128, Spring 2025

THE FOOD ISSUE


IN THE STREETS WITH THE KREWE OF MUNG BEANS
Redefining the spirit of New Orleans
By E. M. Tran

“PEACH,” “THE CORRECT SEASON,”
& “ABSENT FROM THE FEAST AND HAVING HER OWN”
Three poems by Angela Ball

A LOCAL LOAF
One bakery’s quest to make truly homegrown bread
By David Cook

MIAMI IS CHANGING BUT ITS BAKED CHEESE BREAD ENDURES
On Pandebono and the vanishing city
By Rahawa Haile

LENA RICHARD’S NEW ORLEANS COOKBOOK
A portrait of America’s first Black cooking show host
By Mayukh Sen

“IN THE KITCHEN WITH CELIA” & “FOR ME: A SWEETELLE”
Two poems by Sean Hill

SCHMALTZY
Fat and flavor on the Southern-Jewish table
By Madeline Weinfield

A CULINARY CANON: FROM ST. LUCIA TO LOUISIANA
Stories and recipes from a Caribbean chef’s travels
By Nina Compton with Osayi Endolyn

FOOD AND LOVE ON NASHVILLE’S NOLENSVILLE PIKE
Scenes from an American road
By Mikeie Honda Reiland

THE RICE RECORDS
Rice cannot talk, but it has a story to tell
By Latria Graham

MOBILE’S FORGOTTEN BANANA DOCKS
An Alabama hub once brought the Caribbean fruit to the nation
By Ravi Howard


PLUS: A SPECIAL REPORT

THE MACHINE IN THE GARDEN
After decades of unchecked hazardous waste pollution, a Florida hamlet fights the developers eager to build homes there anyway
By Jordan Blumetti


ART & PHOTOGRAPHY BY: Lindsay Metivier, Rosson Crow, Julie Curtiss, David Alekhuogie, Dung “Donkey” Nguyen, Phong, Laurence Philomene, Jed Devine, Sarah Unger, Anastasia Samoylova, Luis Echeverri Urrea, Carter/Reddy, Alexis Doshas, Will Good, Brittany Conerly, L. Kasimu Harris, Fiona Compton, Carolyn Swiszcz, Sam Angel, Eden Frangipane, Joel Caldwell, Grace Beahm Alford, Antonio Henrique Amaral, Arthur Rothstein, Jordan Blumetti, Aaron Browse, Charlie Strayer, Will Huey, Devon Sarian

COVER: Photograph by Lindsay Metivier © The artist, www.lindsaymetivier.com


The Food Issue is published with support from The Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the Culinary Arts.