I’m pleased to know it was a Black man who created mac & cheese, considering its importance in Black American food culture!
Ball notes how even humble macaroni and cheese maintains lofty ties to our founding fathers. To her, the history of food is essential. The first recipes incorporating pasta and cheese date to 14th century Italy; the dish evolved and migrated across the continent. Thomas Jefferson tasted the dish when visiting Europe, bringing back the concept to his chef. Ball explains, “He was an enslaved African man named James Hemings, who perfected macaroni and cheese as we know it today, which is a staple in soul food and a big deal in Black culture.
And yes, this chef was Jefferson’s son with Sally Hemings:
