Chef Nicole A. Taylor has unveiled a fresh culinary creation, “Watermelon & Red Birds: A Cookbook for Juneteenth and Black Celebrations,” as a heartfelt tribute to Juneteenth. This significant day, marked on June 19, commemorates the arrival of Gen. Gordon Granger in Galveston, Texas, in 1865. On that day, he conveyed the long-awaited news of freedom to over 250,000 enslaved Black Texans, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Chef Taylor eloquently recounts that her Juneteenth festivities were a time to cast aside the distractions of daily life and revel in both nourishment and liberty.
Although Juneteenth had been celebrated by many, it was only last year that it was officially recognized as a national holiday. In honor of this milestone, Chef Taylor took a moment to delve into the details of her third cookbook. The remarkable “Watermelon & Red Birds: A Cookbook for Juneteenth and Black Celebrations” stands as the pioneering collection of its kind, brimming with recipes that hold significance. Additionally, she acknowledges the beauty of this time of year, emphasizing how Juneteenth has become a cause of excitement for a diverse array of individuals, united by the newfound national recognition of the holiday.
While Juneteenth’s historical roots are deeply embedded in Texas, the emancipation days reverberated across the entire southern landscape. Chef Taylor offers insight into this, noting that the message of emancipation was not immediately conveyed to enslaved individuals due to the delay in spreading the news of the Emancipation Proclamation. For her, Juneteenth serves as a bridge connecting Black Americans to freedom, jubilation, and a fresh sense of hope, unburdened by the suffering of previous generations.
The inspiration behind Chef Taylor’s cookbook originated unexpectedly. Despite being a southerner who had celebrated Juneteenth for years, the concept for this particular cookbook only surfaced in 2020. Reflecting on this, she candidly admitted that she harbored doubts about her ability to bring it to fruition. However, the events of the tumultuous summer of 2020, marked by widespread social unrest and the ensuing pain, crystallized the idea of focusing on Black joy and celebrations to navigate these trying times. Juneteenth emerged as the perfect compass for this journey.
Within the pages of this cookbook, readers will discover a rich array of over 75 recipes spread across eight chapters. Among these chapters, Chef Taylor holds a special fondness for the one titled “Potato, Green, & Fruit Salad.” She fondly describes this chapter as a vibrant reflection of the summer’s bounty, replete with tomatoes, a quintessential summer delight, evoking memories of her upbringing in the South, where the abundance of corn was a cherished hallmark of the season.
Unveiling the significance behind the title of the cookbook, Chef Taylor recounts its inception during a subway ride in NYC. Drawing from a cherished family belief, she recalls her mother’s explanation that a red bird sighting signifies the presence of a departed loved one, an ancestor returning to impart goodwill. Such an encounter is met with a symbolic blown kiss, heralding good fortune. The choice of watermelon as a key element in the title speaks to its universal appeal and ties to cherished traditions. As Chef Taylor aptly expresses, it is a poignant gesture of respect for the historical, present, and future dimensions of Juneteenth.
