Succotash & Hot-Water Cornbread Takes Me Back to a Happy Place

Photography Julian Lucas ©2024

Food prepared by Julian Lucas
All ingredients locally sourced if possible.

The Great Migration was a pivotal moment for many African American families, as they sought refuge from the Jim Crow South and the promise of better opportunities in northern cities like Chicago (south side), my hometown. The migration carried rich food traditions that transformed inner city culinary landscapes. Weaving together personal and cultural narratives, succotash and hot-water cornbread serves as a comforting reminder of my family’s southern roots of Mississippi.

Originally this historically indigenous midwest dish called msickquatash was reimagined leaving out the tomatoes and lima beans and incorporating white beans and scallops and a splash of Sauvignon Blanc, merging nostalgia with a modern twist. This combination honors tradition while inviting new flavors to the table.

A Southern staple, succotash sustained people during times of hardship and depression, much like it did for the Indigenous people who originally created it.

Julian Lucas, is a photographer, a purveyor of books, and writer, but mostly a photographer. Don’t ever ask him to take photos of events because he will charge you a lot of money. Julian is also the owner and founder of Mirrored Society Book Shop, publisher of The Pomonan, founder of Book-Store.

Coffee: Thirsty Girl Coffee Opens

Text and Photography by Julian Lucas
Published 11/8/2022 9:01 AM PST

A coffee shop is the cornerstone of many cities across the world. Back in the day, coffee shops were always open, day and night. The visually eclectic art adorning the walls, mix-match furniture, and a plethora of teas from all over the world line the counter with other types of bites, leaving no space for anything else. Where writers could have philosophical conversations, artists could sketch in the quiet corner, and scriptwriters could work on their next feature or short film all at the wee hours of the night.

But that was then and this is now. Most coffee shops are more about coffee, although people still work out of coffee shops, among other topics, conversations are now more about coffee. The origins of the roast, the sustainability, and how some coffee houses are now found to be themed or defined as dessert coffee depending.

I stumbled upon Thirsty Girls Coffee and was pleasantly pleased that yet another coffee shop was added to the list. Thirsty Girl Coffee owner, Deserae Casteneda says it’s a way of expression as she took a deeper dive into coffee after working for other types of coffee shops. Thirsty Girl Coffee is themed, celebrating women, pink in color, and adorned with decorative accents, including a disco ball. On the menu, Latte Girl includes themed drinks such as ‘She’s Perfect,’ ‘She’s Snobby, ‘She’s Basic’ and more . . .  The menu also includes seasonal favorites such as Pumpkin Chai, Pumpkin Blended, and of course that Pumpkin Latte everyone enjoys during the holidays.