Closing the Food Disparity Gap One Food Desert at a Time
As a child when you are hungry you just run to the table with excitement, ready to eat. You do not think about where dinner comes from, it just magically appears. As someone who grew up eating anything WIC and Food Stamps, or SNAP, could buy, I was intrigued to learn more about Chef Amber Williams’ book, Surviving the Food Desert. The book shares recipes meant for the everyday cook with access to limited fresh ingredients and pantry staples.
Raised on meals pulled together by her mom from local food drive boxes, Amber is a self-taught chef who you may know from Food Network’s Supermarket Stakeout. Coming from a lineage of chefs, restaurateurs, and entrepreneurs, cooking captivated Amber at an early age. She planted herself in front of the TV, “I was stuck to the TV since I was a child, watching public access TV…[then] when we did have cable, watching Food Network.” She stalked any cooking show she could find, “When people ask me what school did I go to, I’m like ‘Oh I graduated from Food Network University.’” By the time she reached college Amber became known as the go-to person on campus for sweet treats. Her sweet sensations were in such high demand that after school one of her college friends reached out and asked Amber to make her wedding cake.
Today, after a short stint in corporate America, Amber has her own culinary business, Le Rouge, “an elevated Creole Fusion brand specializing in providing professional, customizable and unique catering solutions”. Starting super lean in the early years, Amber maintained the fire to survive on her own. “I had to define what was and what was not important, and what was and was not a necessity.”
As Amber developed her culinary career she always remembered where she came from. While teaching a culinary class at the North Texas Food Bank she also listened and learned. Attendees of her cooking classes had questions, like “What is a butternut squash?” and “How do I cook that?” The more questions came, the more she began to recognize the need for education. Not only did people in food deserts need food, but they also needed education on ways to cook the food in nutritious ways.
When Amber set out to write Surviving the Food Desert we were all in the middle of a pandemic. This time in her life inspired her not only to include recipes in the book, but there are also moments of motivation sprinkled throughout the book. Some recipes in the book are staples from her childhood such as her mom’s “Full Pack Dinner”, which is a one-pot meal or a “gift on a plate” as Amber describes it.
For anyone struggling to make something out of nothing, or trying to decide what to do with the can of beans that has been in their pantry for months, Amber says to “Be creative, don’t be afraid to substitute, use what you have, and make it your own.”
The Surviving the Food Desert Project is about “bridging accessible resources to sustainable & approachable educational programming to improve and elevate the quality of life for citizens living in food-disparaged communities in order to further close the food & health disparity gap.” Accompanying the book is a resource guide, a directory for how people can be a part of the initiative in their community and find the closest organization near them.
For any up and coming chefs who grew up with a dream like Amber’s she shares some lessons learned. “Build a community, and get up under some people; be humble, work for people, even your peers. Envision what you want for your company and define your why, don’t rely on money. Find your signature brand or dish. There are tons of resources available like the Small Business Administration, chambers of commerce, and Google.”
Surviving the Food Desert is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, and more.
Discover more from Flights and Foods
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
16,317 Comments
Proxies Buy
Hi, I do believe this is an excellent web site.
Istumbledupon it 😉 I may return once again since I book marked it.
Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and continue to guide others.
million dollars online
I am extremely inspired along with your writing abilities and also
with the format to your weblog. Is that this a paid theme or did you
modify it your self? Anyway keep up the excellent high
quality writing, it is rare to peer a great weblog
like this one nowadays..
VertiAid Reviews
I’ve been struggling with dizziness and balance issues for quite some time, and VertiAid has been a game-changer.
Its unique blend of ingredients like Cholecalciferol, Zinc-L-Carnosine,
and Marine Collagen has significantly improved my inner ear health.
Within a few weeks of consistent use, I noticed a reduction in vertigo episodes and
an overall improvement in stability. The chewable format makes it easy to incorporate into
my daily routine. Highly recommend giving it a try if you’re dealing with
similar issues!
accessnewswire.com
+3
sterlingmedicalcenter.org
+3
drbaba.com
+3
accessnewswire.com
+1
newswire.com
+1
PhenQ Reviews
I’ve been stuck at the same weight for months, so I’m seriously considering giving PhenQ a shot.
It sounds promising, but I’d love to hear from someone who’s actually used it—did it curb
your appetite or boost your energy?
Flush Factor Plus Reviews
Great breakdown of Flush Factor Plus! I’ve been looking for a natural way to give my immune system a boost, especially with everything going
around lately. This sounds like a solid option.
zepelin01
Hi, i read your blog from time to time and i own a similar one and i was just wondering if
you get a lot of spam responses? If so how do you reduce it, any plugin or anything you can suggest?
I get so much lately it’s driving me mad so any help is very much appreciated.
my webpage zepelin01
Biker Bags
I am curious to find out what blog system you have been working with? I’m having some small security problems with my latest site and I’d like to find something more safe. Do you have any recommendations?
Feel free to surf to my web blog https://Thermalbags.ae/
customize telegram profile privacy
I am genuinely thankful to the owner of this web page who has shared this enormous paragraph at
at this place.
regalo per un uomo di 60 anni
These mechanisms are observed in Trp cage.
buy telegram members
I’m not that much of a internet reader to be honest but your blogs really nice, keep it up!
I’ll go ahead and bookmark your site to come back later on. Cheers