美国国家公共电台 NPR--Many people are celebrating Kwanzaa — we'll find out what's on the menu

Many people are celebrating Kwanzaa — we'll find out what's on the menu

Transcript¹

Culinary historian Tonya Hopkins and her sister Kenya Parham speak with NPR's Rachel Martin about their new seven-episode series on The Food Network: The Kwanzaa Menu.

RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:

It is officially Kwanzaa season. The weeklong celebration of African American culture and heritage runs through New Year's Day. Traditionally, the holiday is celebrated² with candle lighting³ and reflecting on the principles of Kwanzaa, like creativity and self-determination. But what do you eat on Kwanzaa? Tonya Hopkins and Kenya Parham have some delicious suggestions. They are the creators of a new online miniseries for the Food Network called "The Kwanzaa Menu." And you two know one another.

(LAUGHTER)

KENYA PARHAM: Yes, we do. We are sisters.

TONYA HOPKINS: We're sisters.

PARHAM: That's right.

HOPKINS: Not identical sisters. But we are sisters. Yes.

PARHAM: Yes, we are.

HOPKINS: Yes, we are.

MARTIN: Kenya says their connection to Kwanzaa goes way back. Their parents are educators who taught them a lot about Black history and Black pride.

PARHAM: We've been celebrating Kwanzaa my entire life. You know, I joke with folks all the time that we come from a family where we've been dropping Kwanzaa banners from our house, our suburban⁴ homes since I was born. So we are very unapologetically proud to be Black family. And everybody's Black experience is different.

MARTIN: That's why Kenya's sister wanted "The Kwanzaa Menu" to broaden how Black American food is defined. The Kwanzaa recipes that Tonya has developed are nutritious⁵, modern and a little unconventional.

HOPKINS: One of the favorite things we loved doing together since Kenya was a kid was baking things, right? And so...

MARTIN: Yeah.

HOPKINS: ...I came up with Kwanzaa cookie recipes. We bake Christmas cookies, too. But I don't know. For some reason, the Kwanzaa cookie became more of the thing.

MARTIN: What's a Kwanzaa cookie?

HOPKINS: (Laughter).

MARTIN: Tonya uses almond flour to make her Kwanzaa cookies, and she sweetens them with maple⁶ syrup⁷. You can nibble⁸ on one after crunching⁹ into her black-eyed pea fritters with savory¹⁰, smoky sesame sauce or her good deeds greens, as she calls them. You make those with friends or family to honor the Kwanzaa principle of collective responsibility. Kwanzaa is a relatively¹¹ young holiday. It was developed in the 1960s by the activist¹² and professor Maulana Karenga. And it's not linked to an iconic dish like a Thanksgiving turkey or a Christmas ham.

HOPKINS: When I was asked to write the entry for Kwanzaa and foods associated with Kwanzaa for the Oxford¹³ Encyclopedia¹⁴ of Food and Drink in America, there were a lot of questions. People were like, are there foods associated with Kwanzaa? And it's like, yes and no. There's not, like, an established official thing.

MARTIN: How did you set out to pay tribute to those traditional dishes that we would think of as, like, classic soul food but expanding far beyond that to develop a menu that incorporated the wide range of culinary traditions in the African diaspora and make some dishes that were appropriate for this time of reflection that Kwanzaa affords? How do you do that?

HOPKINS: You know, Black people in America, even though we're often diminished or shrunk down or homogenized, it's like we come from many different national origins, cultures, religions, and there's food that goes with that. And then understanding how Kwanzaa was a creative synthesis of harvest rituals from throughout the African continent, it just made natural sense to find and incorporate the star dishes that are special occasion but also everyday things that represent the culture.

MARTIN: And the sisters made every dish on "The Kwanzaa Menu" plant-based without calling them that.

PARHAM: We intentionally¹⁶ did not label them vegan or plant-based, y'all, because people have, you know...

MARTIN: Their own baggage. Right, right, right.

PARHAM: ...Aversions to the labels, right? So, you know...

HOPKINS: They decide, oh, I'm not going to eat that. You know, and it's like...

PARHAM: That's the vegan thing.

MARTIN: But Kenya, who eats a vegan diet, says plant-based foods can be found throughout Black culinary history.

PARHAM: It flipped¹⁷ my consciousness upside down to realize that, yes, soul food is what we are told, you know, it is - the fried chicken, the greens, the candied yams. But there are so many Black cultures that embrace plant-based eating that you start to question, well, where did this narrative¹⁸ of, quote, unquote, "soul food" come from? And why does it continuously get pushed on us that this is what you eat as Black folks? We really wanted to kind of shatter that with this project.

MARTIN: Every recipe on "The Kwanzaa Menu" draws from Black food traditions that crisscrossed the Atlantic with the slave trade. The dishes borrow from the Caribbean, West Africa, the American South. And they're meant to be enjoyed by the whole family, even the drinks, like the aromatic¹⁹, bright-red beverage²⁰ Tonya makes with hibiscus.

HOPKINS: It's a dual²¹ recipe that starts as a mocktail.

PARHAM: A two-in-one drink.

HOPKINS: A two-in-one.

PARHAM: Yes.

HOPKINS: The hot, you know, mulled, you know, aromatic, red, vibrant²² holiday drink. But it also can be served chilled and converted to a cocktail²³ with some bourbon, created by Black people in America.

MARTIN: (Laughter).

HOPKINS: And also, we top it with some sparkling wine, which - Black people were the first wine stewards²⁴ in America. And we raise a glass because libations is an important part of the ritual, but I love it because it's a historically informed, ancestrally inspired and very culturally rooted drink, very intentional¹⁵. And it's for everybody and everybody including those who came before us. It's the medium through which we invite the ancestors into the Kwanzaa ceremony. So that's why that recipe is my favorite.

MARTIN: Yeah 'cause you're clearly doing this for other people to share the traditions that you have grown up with.

HOPKINS: Yeah. I think that Kwanzaa - it's kind of complex, and I think that it can be off-putting for folks that - and I think what we're trying to do is be like, yeah, you can celebrate Kwanzaa relatively simply. You can go all in if you want, but you can also just raise the glass, pour a libation. It's not rigid²⁵.

PARHAM: Absolutely. And I think by calling it a blueprint²⁶, we really leave room for people at home to make it their own. You know, Kwanzaa is a little different, is inventive and creative and, you know,

HOPKINS: And collective because also, you know, there can be a burden around holidays, like, oh, my God, you know, where one person is expected to do their signature dishes for everybody. It's like, no, you come in there. You wash your hands. You up your sleeves. You work together. You prepare these things together. And I think that lessens²⁷ the burden and makes it also fun and inviting²⁸ and social and collective, as well.

(SOUNDBITE OF NERIJA'S "VALLEYS")

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

Rachel with Tonya Hopkins and her sister, Kenya Parham, who created "The Kwanzaa Menu." The digital series is streaming now on foodnetwork.com.

(SOUNDBITE OF NERIJA'S "VALLEYS")

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

3 lighting   

n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光

参考例句：

• The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
• The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。

4 suburban   

adj.城郊的，在郊区的

参考例句：

• Suburban shopping centers were springing up all over America. 效区的商业中心在美国如雨后春笋般地兴起。
• There's a lot of good things about suburban living.郊区生活是有许多优点。

5 nutritious   

adj.有营养的，营养价值高的

参考例句：

• Fresh vegetables are very nutritious.新鲜蔬菜富于营养。
• Hummingbirds have discovered that nectar and pollen are very nutritious.蜂鸟发现花蜜和花粉是很有营养的。

6 maple   

n.槭树，枫树，槭木

参考例句：

• Maple sugar is made from the sap of maple trees.枫糖是由枫树的树液制成的。
• The maple leaves are tinge with autumn red.枫叶染上了秋天的红色。

7 syrup   

n.糖浆，糖水

参考例句：

• I skimmed the foam from the boiling syrup.我撇去了煮沸糖浆上的泡沫。
• Tinned fruit usually has a lot of syrup with it.罐头水果通常都有许多糖浆。

8 nibble   

n.轻咬，啃；v.一点点地咬，慢慢啃，吹毛求疵

参考例句：

• Inflation began to nibble away at their savings.通货膨胀开始蚕食他们的存款。
• The birds cling to the wall and nibble at the brickwork.鸟儿们紧贴在墙上，啄着砖缝。

9 crunching   

v.嘎吱嘎吱地咬嚼( crunch的现在分词 )；嘎吱作响；（快速大量地）处理信息；数字捣弄

参考例句：

• The horses were crunching their straw at their manger. 这些马在嘎吱嘎吱地吃槽里的草。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The dog was crunching a bone. 狗正嘎吱嘎吱地嚼骨头。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 savory   

adj.风味极佳的，可口的，味香的

参考例句：

• She placed a huge dish before him of savory steaming meat.她将一大盘热气腾腾、美味可口的肉放在他面前。
• He doesn't have a very savory reputation.他的名誉不太好。

11 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

12 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

13 Oxford   

n.牛津（英国城市）

参考例句：

• At present he has become a Professor of Chemistry at Oxford.他现在已是牛津大学的化学教授了。
• This is where the road to Oxford joins the road to London.这是去牛津的路与去伦敦的路的汇合处。

14 encyclopedia   

n.百科全书

参考例句：

• The encyclopedia fell to the floor with a thud.那本百科全书砰的一声掉到地上。
• Geoff is a walking encyclopedia.He knows about everything.杰夫是个活百科全书，他什么都懂。

15 intentional   

adj.故意的，有意（识）的

参考例句：

• Let me assure you that it was not intentional.我向你保证那不是故意的。
• His insult was intentional.他的侮辱是有意的。

16 intentionally   

ad.故意地，有意地

参考例句：

• I didn't say it intentionally. 我是无心说的。
• The local authority ruled that he had made himself intentionally homeless and was therefore not entitled to be rehoused. 当地政府裁定他是有意居无定所，因此没有资格再获得提供住房。

17 flipped   

轻弹( flip的过去式和过去分词 )； 按（开关）； 快速翻转； 急挥

参考例句：

• The plane flipped and crashed. 飞机猛地翻转，撞毁了。
• The carter flipped at the horse with his whip. 赶大车的人扬鞭朝着马轻轻地抽打。

18 narrative   

n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的

参考例句：

• He was a writer of great narrative power.他是一位颇有记述能力的作家。
• Neither author was very strong on narrative.两个作者都不是很善于讲故事。

19 aromatic   

adj.芳香的，有香味的

参考例句：

• It has an agreeable aromatic smell.它有一种好闻的香味。
• It is light,fruity aromatic and a perfect choice for ending a meal.它是口感轻淡，圆润，芳香的，用于结束一顿饭完美的选择。

20 beverage   

n.(水，酒等之外的)饮料

参考例句：

• The beverage is often colored with caramel.这种饮料常用焦糖染色。
• Beer is a beverage of the remotest time.啤酒是一种最古老的饮料。

21 dual   

adj.双的；二重的，二元的

参考例句：

• The people's Republic of China does not recognize dual nationality for any Chinese national.中华人民共和国不承认中国公民具有双重国籍。
• He has dual role as composer and conductor.他兼作曲家及指挥的双重身分。

22 vibrant   

adj.震颤的，响亮的，充满活力的，精力充沛的，(色彩)鲜明的

参考例句：

• He always uses vibrant colours in his paintings. 他在画中总是使用鲜明的色彩。
• She gave a vibrant performance in the leading role in the school play.她在学校表演中生气盎然地扮演了主角。

23 cocktail   

n.鸡尾酒；餐前开胃小吃；混合物

参考例句：

• We invited some foreign friends for a cocktail party.我们邀请了一些外国朋友参加鸡尾酒会。
• At a cocktail party in Hollywood,I was introduced to Charlie Chaplin.在好莱坞的一次鸡尾酒会上，人家把我介绍给查理·卓别林。

24 stewards   

（轮船、飞机等的）乘务员( steward的名词复数 )； （俱乐部、旅馆、工会等的）管理员； （大型活动的）组织者； （私人家中的）管家

参考例句：

• The stewards all wore armbands. 乘务员都戴了臂章。
• The stewards will inspect the course to see if racing is possible. 那些干事将检视赛马场看是否适宜比赛。

25 rigid   

adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的

参考例句：

• She became as rigid as adamant.她变得如顽石般的固执。
• The examination was so rigid that nearly all aspirants were ruled out.考试很严，几乎所有的考生都被淘汰了。

26 blueprint   

n.蓝图，设计图，计划；vt.制成蓝图，计划

参考例句：

• All the machine parts on a blueprint must answer each other.设计图上所有的机器部件都应互相配合。
• The documents contain a blueprint for a nuclear device.文件内附有一张核装置的设计蓝图。

27 lessens   

变少( lessen的第三人称单数 )； 减少（某事物）

参考例句：

• Eating a good diet significantly lessens the risk of heart disease. 良好的饮食习惯能大大减少患心脏病的机率。
• Alcohol lessens resistance to diseases. 含有酒精的饮料会减弱对疾病的抵抗力。

28 inviting   

adj.诱人的，引人注目的

参考例句：

• An inviting smell of coffee wafted into the room.一股诱人的咖啡香味飘进了房间。
• The kitchen smelled warm and inviting and blessedly familiar.这间厨房的味道温暖诱人，使人感到亲切温馨。