Southern Foodways Alliance

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Southern Foodways Alliance The Southern Foodways Alliance documents, studies, and explores the food cultures of the South.

Today on podcast, producer Mackenzie Martin visits Las Tortugas Deli Mexicana in Memphis – who fed us all on the first...
10/14/2026

Today on podcast, producer Mackenzie Martin visits Las Tortugas Deli Mexicana in Memphis – who fed us all on the first day of this year’s SFA Symposium – where a father and son are serving their personal take on Mexico City cuisine on a hollowed-out roll.

She joins Jonathan and José “Pepe” Magallanes as they serve guests and blend agua frescas in the kitchen, and talks with chef Pati Jinich (Pati Jinich) about what “authentic” Mexico City food really means.

Listen to “A Taste of Mexico City in Memphis” at the link in our bio or wherever you get your podcasts, and don’t forget to subscribe.

Photos by Mackenzie Martin (Mackenzie Martin).

Thank you to all who joined us in Memphis for the 2026 Southern Foodways Symposium to explore Memphis Movements—built an...
10/12/2026

Thank you to all who joined us in Memphis for the 2026 Southern Foodways Symposium to explore Memphis Movements—built and imagined.

SFA values the time and talent of all presenters and commits to compensating them. Scroll to see the donors who support SFA’s work throughout the year, making it possible for us to offer affordable tickets for the symposium as we adhere to our values. We thank them.

21c Museum Hotels ()
AC Restaurants ()
Anson Mills ()
Blue Plate Mayonnaise ()
Callaway Blue Spring Water ()
Lisa and Scott Caradine ()
High Hampton ()
High Wire Distilling ()
The Indigo Road ()
Susan and David Marcinek
McIlhenny Company ()
Order of the Okra
Estate of Bill Shoemaker, Jr
Taste of the South ()
Virginia W**e Board ()

We closed the 2026 Symposium much like we began, sharing a meal surrounded by friends and supporters of the SFA. This ye...
10/12/2026

We closed the 2026 Symposium much like we began, sharing a meal surrounded by friends and supporters of the SFA. This year, Sunday guests enjoyed a to-go box from local institution, The Four Way (The Four Way Restaurant), including Fried Fish, Baked Chicken, Cabbage, Black-Eyed Peas, Mac & Cheese, and Tabasco (TABASCO® Brand).

Before lunch, we savored Rosemary Sea Salt Bagels and Mini Pain au Chocolats from Karen Barker Baker Josh Steiner (Josh Steiner) of Hive Bagel & Deli (Hive | Memphis Bagel Coffee Pastry Shop), alongside coffee from Renata Henderson and Bartholomew Jones (Renata Henderson) (Bartholomew Jones) of Cxffeeblack (cxffeeblack)

We’re feeling full in every sense of the word. Thank you to everyone who joined us for this year’s Symposium and for your continued support of our work.

Photo Credit: Andrew Albright (Andrew)

From civil rights to Southern hip-hop, Latino migration, and environmental advocacy, this year’s Southern Foodways Sympo...
10/11/2026

From civil rights to Southern hip-hop, Latino migration, and environmental advocacy, this year’s Southern Foodways Symposium in Memphis explored the people, movements, and foodways that have shaped the city—and continue to shape its future.

On Saturday, conversations connected the parallels of the 1968 I AM A MAN campaign and the present day, traced the history of Memphis and its foodways across time and place, and explored the evolution of Memphis soul music into the globally influential Southern hip-hop. Panelists also examined the environmental threats posed by data centers, highlighting the work of local advocates to protect their communities and empowering residents.

On Sunday, discussions explored Latino migration and the communities it sustains in Memphis, along with the often-overlooked strategic contributions of women to the Civil Rights Movement. Through poetry, historical perspectives, and community storytelling, speakers considered the forces that shape our cities and the people who drive meaningful change.

The weekend concluded with films by Ethan Payne (Ethan Payne) and Zaire Love (ZAIRE LOVE ✞ ✨), celebrating Memphis’ diverse communities and the ways residents preserve and share their cultural identities through food, theater, and community building.

Thank you to all of our presenters and attendees for bringing these conversations to life and leaving us hungry for more.

We closed out Day 1 of the 2026 Symposium at Crosstown Concourse (Crosstown Concourse) with Andy Ticer and Michael Hudma...
10/11/2026

We closed out Day 1 of the 2026 Symposium at Crosstown Concourse (Crosstown Concourse) with Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman of Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen, transporting us into their Italian grandmothers’ homes where each dish was made with great care, and they insist you take just one more bite (no matter how full or how much you were served).

On The Menu:

For the Table:
Sega’s Breadsticks | culatello, pear, honey
AMIK Focaccia | olive mix, parsley, Parmesan Pumpkin Fritters | Meyer lemon crème fraîche

1st Course
Italian Fried Chicken | fennel pollen, cacio e pepe
Pizzette | mortadella, salsa verde butter, stracciatella, pistachios
Fried Ravs | Maw Maw’s gravy, parmesan Shrimp | Tabasco, Calabrian chili, butter, soft herbs

2nd Course
JE Garlic Bread
Cappelletti en Brodo
Rigatoni | Maw Maw’s gravy
Lumache | vodka sauce, stracciatella, basil

3rd Course
Chicken Parm | tomato sauce, mozzarella, fontina, basil
Meatballs | guanciale, pancetta, tomato, garlic Black Hawk Farm Bone-in Strip | salsa verde, beef tallow
Saffron Risotto | chicken gizzards, Parmesan
Lady Creamers | cacio e pepe, lemon conserva, pangrattato
JE Salad | little gem, vinaigrette, provolone, Cerignola olives, artichokes, pecorino

4th Course
Tiramisu | espresso anglaise, cacao nibs, ladyfingers

For the road:
“Leave the gun, take the cannoli” | peanut butter, salted caramel peanuts

Before dinner, High Wire (High Wire Distilling Co. | Charleston, SC) welcomed us with delicious drinks featuring their Jimmy Red Bourbon and Hat Trick Gin, and Virginia W**es (Virginia W**e) kept our glasses full throughout dinner.

Photo Credit: Andrew Albright (Andrew)

SFA is pleased to honor the 2026 award winners and pay tribute to their lives and work through film. Join us in congratu...
10/10/2026

SFA is pleased to honor the 2026 award winners and pay tribute to their lives and work through film. Join us in congratulating the honorees for their contributions to Southern foodways and scroll through to learn more about their stories.

John Egerton Prize: Andrea Denette and Gretchen Gintz of Sunshine & Daisy Mobile Food Pantry (Sunshine & Daisy Mobile Food Pantry)

Keeper of the Flame: The Payne Family ()

Lifetime Achievement Award: BJ. Chester-Tamayo of Alencia’s (B.j. Chester-Tamayo)

Photo Credit: Andrew Albright (Andrew)

After a morning of presentations, discussions, and celebrations for our 2026 award winners, we are thankful for Jonathan...
10/10/2026

After a morning of presentations, discussions, and celebrations for our 2026 award winners, we are thankful for Jonathan Magallanes of Los Tortugas for providing a delicious lunch and agua frescas to fuel us for the afternoon.

On the menu:

Tortuga de Chile Colorado | Red Chile Short Rib Torta

Truffled Esquites | Mexican Street Corn with Truffle Oil

Guacamole con Granada | Seasonal Guacamole with Pomegranate

Tesote | Mexican Tea Agua Fresca

Looking forward to continuing celebrations, conversation, and of course, plenty more food, here in Memphis, Tennessee.

Photo Credit: Andrew Albright (Andrew)

Good morning, Memphis! We’re kicking off day 1 of Symposium with a full day of presentations, conversation, and communit...
10/10/2026

Good morning, Memphis! We’re kicking off day 1 of Symposium with a full day of presentations, conversation, and community.

Thank you, Bartholomew and Renata () and our 2026 Karen Barker Baker, Josh Steiner, (Hive | Memphis Bagel Coffee Pastry Shop) for fueling our weekend ahead with Spelt Sourdough Breakfast Focaccia and of course, lots of coffee.

A big thank you to SFA donors who helped make this event possible:

Callaway Water | Callaway Blue | Premium Spring Water
High Wire Distillery | High Wire Distilling Co. | Charleston, SC
McIlhenny Company, Maker of Tabasco® Brand Pepper Sauces | TABASCO® Brand
Virginia W**e Board | Virginia W**e

Photo Credit: Andrew Albright (Andrew

The 2026 Southern Foodways Symposium kicks off TOMORROW in Memphis, Tennessee! We are excited to see nearly 150 SFA frie...
10/09/2026

The 2026 Southern Foodways Symposium kicks off TOMORROW in Memphis, Tennessee!

We are excited to see nearly 150 SFA friends, supporters, and colleagues. Registration begins at 9 a.m. with coffee from Renata Henderson and Bartholomew Jones of and a bite from Josh Steiner of Hive Bagel & Deli Hive | Memphis Bagel Coffee Pastry Shop at the Halloran Centre.

If you can’t be with us this weekend, follow along here for highlights.

SFA is pleased to honor Sunshine and Daisy Mobile Food Pantry () in Memphis, Tennessee with the 2026 John Egerton Prize....
10/07/2026

SFA is pleased to honor Sunshine and Daisy Mobile Food Pantry () in Memphis, Tennessee with the 2026 John Egerton Prize.

Sunshine and Daisy Mobile Food Pantry collects food donations from various local partners to deliver via a rehabilitated school bus directly to Memphis neighborhoods where individuals and families can collect and even shop for food on the bus, no questions asked.

The John Egerton Prize, endowed by SFA member contributions, awards $5,000 each year to those people or organizations in the American South whose work addresses issues of race, class, gender, and social and environmental justice, through the lens of food.

On Saturday, October 10, at the 2026 Fall Symposium, guests will watch a film by Kamien Bell () that pays tribute to Sunshine and Daisy’s impact. Join us in celebrating their work in Memphis.

Photo Credit: ABC 24

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PO Box 1848
University, MS
38677

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