Our South: Black Food Through My Lens

Raised in Appalachia, native daughter Ashleigh Shanti, a queer Black woman and acclaimed chef, knows Southern Black cooking means more than we’ve come to believe. While hot buttered cast-iron-pan cornbread and crunchy, juicy, lard-fried chicken have their roles to play, they are far from the entire story.

The key to understanding how Black influence has defined foodways and cultures in the South is to explore its microregions, each with its own distinct flora and fauna, dialects, traditions, and dishes. In Our South, Ashleigh takes you through the five regions closest to her heart, beginning with a glimpse of mountain life in the Backcountry through recipes like Fish Camp Hush Puppies and quail spiked with black pepper. A swing over to the coastal Lowcountry fills your plate with smoky grilled oysters and benne seed–topped crab toasts. Seasonal produce shines in the Midlands, where bountiful stone fruits enrich dishes from shortcakes to salads. Lowlands nods to the diversity of food cultures that meet in the region, where Ashleigh grew up eating noodle dishes like Virginia yock alongside Southern classics like Brunswick stew. The book culminates in Homeland, with foods that share what it’s like to cook—and live—as a Black Southern chef now.

Ashleigh’s culinary journey culminates in Our South, where each dish speaks deeply to its origins, revealing the true story of Black food in the region and the many pleasures of the South you can savor at home, wherever that may be.

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Call or text: 206-941-1489
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We are also available in person at 2332 California Ave SW in West Seattle. Find hours HERE.

SHIPPING

Domestic Orders
Ship via USPS Priority or UPS ground and take approx 5-7 business days.

• Under a pound: $5
• 1-3 pounds: $10
• 3-5 pounds: $15
• 5+ pounds: $20

International Orders
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• Canada: $30 flat rate
• Australia + New Zealand: $60
• All other countries: $50

For more information, visit our Shipping page HERE.

RETURNS
New clothing, accessories, and home goods are available for return or exchanges within 14 days. Vintage goods, food, skincare/body, items on sale or promotion are all final sale. For more information, visit our return page HERE.