Soul Food Looks Back: A Juneteenth Culinary Conversation with celebrity chef Carla Hall and African American culinary historian Dr. Jessica B. Harris. Join us for a pre-recorded session exploring what is Soul Food, where did it come from, and how are African Americans represented in the culinary industry? This will be followed immediately by a live question and answer session with Carla Hall at 12:45 pm on the City's Facebook.  

About the authors: Educator, author, and culinary historian Harris is regarded as the foremost expert on the recipes and foodways of the African diaspora. Harris has written and for countless magazines, including Essence, and published eleven culinary history and cookbooks. Her book, "High on the Hog," has just been adapted as a Netflix series. A founding member of the Southern Foodways Alliance, Harris was the 2004 recipient of its lifetime achievement award, a 2010 James Beard Foundation special award honoree, and 2019 winner of the JB Cookbook Hall of Fame Award. Harris is currently a member of the faculty in the English Department at Queen’s College and a host of Heritage Radio Network’s "My Welcome Table," a monthly exploration into the foods and cultures of cities across the globe.

Hall became a media personality, rising to fame after starring as a contestant on "Top Chef." After working as a CPA, Hall moved to Europe and began working as a model. While overseas, Hall began to develop her passion for cooking and reflection on the culinary traditions of her grandmother. After returning to the states, Hall attended L’Académie de Cuisine in Maryland. She promptly established herself as an executive chef at a number of prominent Washington DC establishments. During her time on "Top Chef," Hall was voted fan favorite and became well known for her “cooking with love” philosophy. Hall went on to serve as co-host on the hit daytime show "The Chew" for seven years. Hall is the author of three cookbooks. Her latest cookbook, "Carla Hall’s Soul Food: Everyday and Celebration," received an NAACP Image Awards nomination. Currently, Hall can be seen on television as the culinary contributor to "Good Morning America." In addition, Hall hosts the podcast “Say Yes with Carla Hall," which interviews a wide variety of successful individuals to explore how they were able to overcome life’s challenges.