Ribs are a popular dish in the African-American soul food cooking tradition. © fox17 - Fotolia.com

From EURWeb:

You might not want to watch the upcoming PBS special “Soul Food Junkies” (or read this post) on an empty stomach.

Airing in January as part of the network’s Independent Lens series, the film from director Byron Hurt serves up such satisfying-yet-not-so-heart friendly soul food staples as fried chicken, ribs, collard greens, mac and cheese, cornbread, peach cobbler and more – all while tracing the culinary tradition and relevance of soul food in relation to the African American community.

Hurt was inspired to examine the complex relationship after watching his own father flat out refuse to give up the grease and sugar of his traditional soul food diet when told that his health would seriously deteriorate if he didn’t.

“My father had become ill with pancreatic cancer. My sister, my mother and myself really tried hard to get him to change his eating habits so we could help him extend his life,” Hurt told EURweb during a press conference for the film.  “It was very hard for him. In fact, we got into some very tense conversations because I would question him about the food that he was putting on his plate, even after he had become ill.”

Hurt said he could sense that his father’s stubbornness was rooted in something more emotional than just mere defiance.

Read the rest of this story and see the trailer for “Soul Food Junkies” on EURWeb.