Finding Edna Lewis

– Deb: Your menu here at The Grey, it's sectioned off into different areas.

Talk to me about that decision- making process to kind of mirror what Edna Lewis was doing.

– Mashama: Right.

– Deb: And you know, why you decided to do that?

– Mashama: So when I went to Savannah and started really writing the menus, I was writing it in a very Italian way of writing.

It was a good menu, but it didn't really tell a story.

And so someone was like, well, what would Edna Lewis do?

And in her book, In Pursuit of Flavor, it's really cool because she has, you know, from the gardens, from the farmland, from the lakes and streams and oceans.

And we just thought that that was such a cool way to remain inspired and focused on Southern cooking, right?

So our menu is broken up into four different sections, and so it's dirt, water, pasture, and pantry in respect to Edna Lewis's book.

- So what stands out to you with Miss Lewis's life?

She's had this incredible life.

Seamstress.

– Mashama: Right.

– Deb: You know, cooking for Truman Capote.

– Mashama: Right.

All this.

What stands out for you?

- I love how later in her life she wore a lot of African garb.

You know, I love that she sort of celebrated that part of herself that really connects her to her ancestors.

I love that she was a Communist.

(laughter) I just kind of like that she was different and she stood out and she had a different way of thinking.

I like the fact that she sort of pushed the envelope and got people's attention in that way, where they were like, 'Hmm, let's keep an eye on her.'

– Deb: I think that there's parallels between your life and, and Miss Lewis's life because of, you know, the time in New York, back in the South, kind of creating food that's not narrowly defined.

– Mashama: Right.

– Deb: Because of the influences that happen.

Do you think about that?

- That's a, um.

No, I don't.

(laughter) I don't, I don't.

That would be an honor to compare myself to Miss Edna Lewis, but I'm just inspired by her.

You know, I'm inspired by her 'yes and' you know, and I feel like I have a little bit of that in me.

I'm like, yes, and what's next?

I think taking an opportunity to move to a Southern city with someone that you don't know who is white, is very challenging in itself.

And to come up on a 10 year business together inspired by a Black woman who's inspired by another Black woman, I think is a pretty powerful thing.