Edna Lewis

EDNA LEWIS

Edna Lewis was a busy woman. A descendant of freed slaves. she grew up on a subsistence farm and was a farmer, a seamstress and a celebrated chef in New York City. After she broke her ankle, Ms. Lewis took a few moments to sit still and write that cookbook that her editor wanted. The Taste of Country Cooking came out in 1976 and earned a spot on every cookbook shelf. Right next to that red and white checkered Better Homes Cookbook! LOL In the 1950's, Ms. Lewis was a chef in New York's Cafe Nicholson and was known for her comfort food that was made with 'flourish'. Ms. Lewis passed away in 2006, but she accomplished her goal as stated in an interview with the New York Times in 1989: "As a child in Virginia, I thought all food tasted delicious. After growing, I didn't think food tasted the same, so it has been my life long effort to try and recapture those good flavors of the past."

P. F. Chiang's

Phillip Chiang is a co-owner of the renowned P. F. Chang's restaurant chain. It must be a genetic thing because his mom, Cecilia Chiang, helped some friends open a restaurant of their own. She was basically financial backing and didn't really want to be actively involved, but when her friends pulled out of the deal, Cecilia was left with everything. She went ahead and opened The Mandarin on her own at 40 years old in 1961. The Mandarin specialized in Northern Chinese food which relied on fairly expensive ingredients. Cecilia grew up in Beijing and wanted to serve more traditional Chinese food rather than the cheap Americanized Chinese food that Americans were accustomed to. Business was slow until The Mandarin received a rave review from the San Francisco Chronicle. Heavy crowds forced Cecilia to move to a larger location. Regulars included Henry Kissinger, Julia Child and Jefferson Airplane.

Gluten-Free Fried Chicken

Looking for a gluten-free coating for fried chicken? Try mashed potato flakes! They'll add an extra crunch to your fried chicken. Even if you're not gluten-free, mashed potato flakes are worth the try!