Meet Soul Food Scholar Adrian Miller

We’re nearly a month into the official summer season, which means the heat is on and so are many barbecue grills! From hotdogs and burgers to vege kabobs and even desserts, this style of cuisine can cover nearly every course on the menu. Explore the Library’s selection of cookbooks to find the perfect recipe for your next cookout.

If outdoor cooking is a little too hot for your taste, come learn about the history of barbecue in the comfort of air conditioning. On Friday, July 22, at 6:30 p.m., two-time James Beard Award-winning culinary historian and author Adrian Miller will visit Mid-Continent Public Library’s Woodneath Library Center as part of The Story Center Speaker Series.

Miller will discuss his latest book, Black Smoke: African Americans and the United States of Barbecue. In the book, Miller chronicles the complex cultural history of barbecue, the pivotal roles that Black barbecuers, pitmasters, and restaurateurs have played in developing it as one of the nation's most distinctive culinary arts, and how these innovators are coming into their own today.

In addition to Black Smoke, Miller is the author of Soul Food: The Surprising Story of An American Cuisine, One Plate at A Time and The President's Kitchen Cabinet: The Story of the African Americans Who Have Fed Our First Families, From the Washingtons to the Obamas.

Miller’s program is free to attend and will be followed by a book sale and signing. Register at mymcpl.org/StoryCenter.