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Independent
Documentaries
Fried Chicken and Sweet Potato Pie This award winning documentary tells the story of Miss Edna Lewis,
the granddaughter of freed slaves from Virginia. It chronicles
her life on the farm in Freetown, VA, and her exodus
to New York City where she became the adored chef for post-WW II artists,
writers, scholars, and performers in Manhattan at Cafe Nicholson. There
she cooked simple but elegant meals based on her family's approach
to food - fresh and local.
Her recollections of life on the farm and the meals her mother
and aunts cooked are beautifully described in the recently reissued
cookbook, "The Taste of Country Cooking"
(Knopf, 2006).
Late in her life, Miss Lewis became friends with Scott Peacock,
an Alabama-born, white chef almost 50 years her junior. Their
friendship deepened into a unique relationship. They were
called 'the odd couple' of the cooking world and co-authored a popular
cookbook, "The Gift of Southern Cooking" (Knopf, 2003).
As Miss Lewis grew older, Scott found a place where they could live
together. He became her caregiver, helping her cope with a now
frail mind and body.
Edna Lewis died in February, 2006, but
Scott Peacock insures her legacy lives on in his recipes as
Executive Chef at Watershed Restaurant in Decatur, Georgia.
21
minutes 8 seconds
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