Erykah Badu: "I’ve eaten like a vegan since 1997"
People reported that this past Monday, Grammy Award-winning singer Erykah Badu hosted a Soul Food Vegan Dinner Party at The Kitchen Table in New York City, to celebrate her return as host for the Soul Train Awards coming up this weekend.
25 guests were invited and the seven-course meal was created by vegan chef Bryant Terry, which included glazed carrots, braised mustard greens, barbecue tempeh and purple potato soup. Badu told People:
“I’ve been a vegetarian since my senior year of high school, that was 1989. And I’ve eaten like a vegan since 1997, so it’ll be 20 years next year. I wouldn’t call myself a vegan because I don’t subscribe to any type of organizations. It’s just what’s best for my body. If I was a Lamborghini I would want to put the best gas in it. I eat raw mostly, kale salad, avocados, fruits, vegetables and alkaline water. One of my favorite dishes is my own coconut collard greens.”
Chef Terry sees the creation of filling and nutritious vegan food as an opportunity to dispel misconceptions of both the diet as well as African-American cuisine. He states:
“A lot of people think of vegan food in terms of lack — ‘it doesn’t have meat, it doesn’t have dairy.’ When it comes to soul food, people often default to the comfort foods, like deep fried fatty meats and sugary desserts. My work is about celebrating the diversity of vegetables, fruits, grains and legumes and expanding people’s notions of African-American cuisine.”
To see the photos of the incredible seven-course meal, visit this link.
Photo Credit: www.abcnews.go.com