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
Prodentim Reviews
ProDentim is an oral probiotic supplement designed to support healthy teeth and gums by promoting beneficial bacteria in the mouth.
Unlike conventional dental care products that may disrupt the oral microbiome, ProDentim focuses on restoring
balance to the bacteria that naturally protect teeth and gums.
This formula is ideal for anyone looking to improve their oral health naturally, prevent cavities, strengthen gums, and maintain fresh breath.
gluco6 Reviews
Really impressed by how Gluco6 blends science with natural ingredients.
Managing blood sugar naturally can be tough, but this seems like a
smart and safe option — love that it’s made in FDA-approved facilities too!
slot 777
Hi, Neat post. There’s an issue along with your web site in web explorer, could test this?K IE still is the marketplace leader and a big portion of other people will leave out your excellent writing due to this problem.
HepatoBurn Reviews
HepatoBurn uses a powerful blend of natural ingredients to
strengthen liver health, aid in detoxification,
and improve your overall well-being. Support your body’s natural
cleansing process and boost liver function with HepatoBurn — a reliable choice for those committed to healthy living.
slot dana
Hey! I know this is kinda off topic nevertheless I’d figured I’d ask. Would you be interested in exchanging links or maybe guest authoring a blog post or vice-versa? My blog covers a lot of the same topics as yours and I believe we could greatly benefit from each other. If you’re interested feel free to send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you! Superb blog by the way!
wisata pantai di indonesia
Great wordpress blog here.. It’s hard to find quality writing like yours these days. I really appreciate people like you! take care
ugebet
The very heart of your writing while appearing reasonable at first, did not sit well with me after some time. Somewhere within the sentences you managed to make me a believer but just for a while. I still have a problem with your jumps in logic and you would do nicely to fill in all those breaks. When you actually can accomplish that, I would undoubtedly end up being fascinated.
Epoxy Floors
Hey, you used to write excellent, but the last several posts have been kinda boring?K I miss your tremendous writings. Past few posts are just a bit out of track! come on!
Neuro Surge Reviews
Love how NeuroSurge is all-natural! So many brain supplements are packed
with synthetic stuff, but this one seems clean and effective.
Thanks for breaking it down so clearly in the video!
sabung ayam online
Howdy! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a collection of volunteers and
starting a new project in a community in the same niche.
Your blog provided us beneficial information to
work on. You have done a outstanding job!