The brutal history of sugar cane and the sweet taste of Louisiana pralines

I profile Robert King, a member of the Angola 3, alongside Albert Woodfox and Herman Wallace—three men who collectively spent over 100 years in solitary confinement at the Louisiana State Penitentiary before their convictions were overturned. King’s story intertwines prison labor, injustice, the brutal history of sugarcane, and the sweet taste of Louisiana pralines into a moving portrait of resilience.

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Good FoodJessica Gingrich
Our Cheese, Ourselves

This episode is a celebration of cheese—its rich history, magical properties, and the joys and challenges of making it. I let the curds guide my way and put my fate in the hands of a modern-day practitioner of tyromancy, the ancient art of cheese fortune-telling.

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The Bittersweet History of Pralines

From their origins in the kitchens of enslaved women to their role in modern entrepreneurship, pralines are a testament to resilience and cultural heritage. In this episode of Meat and Three, I explore the rich and complex history of pralines, through the lens of Robert King, a member of the Angola 3. This story uncovers the deep connections between these sweets and the legacy of slavery, the innovative spirit of African American women, and the ongoing fight for freedom and equality.

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Yesterday’s Flavors, Tomorrow’s Table: Preserving Culinary Heritage

Salt-rising bread is an anomaly in our white-bread world. It’s pungent, dense, and undeniably divisive. But, it’s also beloved by a small, dedicated group of bakers. So, why does this bread stir up such strong feelings? And why do they continue to make it? To find out more about this peculiar and precious bread, I spoke with the keepers of this disappearing tradition.

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Celebration as Necessity

This episode of Meat and Three delves into how acknowledgment and celebration can be powerful tools for social change and sustainability. My story is a love letter to the marginalia in vintage cocktail books, a reminder that history isn’t just confined to textbooks—it’s shaken, stirred, and poured into the drinks we share and the stories we tell.

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