Last Thursday, Michael Twitty, acclaimed author of The Cooking Gene: A Journey Through African American Culinary History in the Old South and forthcoming Kosher Soul, joined us virtually for a conversation and with Jewish Food Influencer & OneTable Board Member/Superhost Jake Cohen. They discussed Shabbat, justice, identity cooking, and more. Check it out below.

Here’s Michael’s already-iconic cocktail recipe to help you up your Shabbat game

The “Petty Mani”

• 1 part Concord Grape Manichewitz
• 1 part Muscadine Cider
• 1 part peach or lemon or orange vodka
• 1 part lemon-lime seltzer
• Lil shot of Triple Sec
• Fresh fruit in little bits — seedless grapes, apple, sliced lemon or lime

Mix and shake like a cocktail drink…cuz it is. Have a kosher kiki!

We continue to be so inspired by the way you’re coming together and creating #FridayNightMagic this year. We’re loving seeing you post dinners just for yourself, as reminders that Friday nights are still a time to feel grounded, grateful, and safe. Right now, OneTable is offering Nourishment credit for you celebrating Shabbat solo, you celebrating with people you live with, you celebrating with a larger crew virtually, and even Shabbat dinners that are outdoors and socially-distanced. Missed the event or want Michael to walk you through her go-to Shabbat menu while you cook your own dinner? Catch last night’s program below anytime and show us how you cook Michael’s recipes — tag @onetableshabbat @thecookinggene @jakecohen #ShabbatShAlone.

Want to find a virtual dinner to attend? Click here. Want to host your own? We got you. We’ve created a ton of resources to help you Shabbat Alone, Together right here.

Michael W. Twitty is a culinary historian and food writer from the Washington D.C. area. He blogs at Afroculinaria.com. He’s appeared on Bizarre Foods America with Andrew Zimmern, Many Rivers to Cross with Dr. Henry Louis Gates, and has lectured to over 450 groups. He has served as a judge for the James Beard Awards and is a fellow with the Southern Foodways Alliance and TED and was the first Revolutionary in Residence at The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Southern Living named Twitty, one of “Fifty People Changing the South and the Root.com added him to their 100 most influential African Americans under 45. Beyonce beat him out as number one.” He also made the Jewish Forwards list of most influential American Jews. HarperCollins released Twitty’s The Cooking Gene, in 2017, tracing his ancestry through food from Africa to America and from slavery to freedom, a finalist for The Kirkus Prize and The Art of Eating Prize and a third place winner of Barnes&Noble’s Discover New Writer’s Awards in Nonfiction. THE COOKING GENE WON the 2018 James Beard Award for best writing as well as book of the year, making him the first Black author so awarded. his piece on visiting Ghana in Bon Appetit was included in Best Food Writing in 2019 and was nominated for a 2019 James Beard Award. Koshersoul is his next book from HarperCollins.