Perez, Religion in the kitchen.

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Image source: https://asheandmoneyinsanteria.wordpress.com

In Religion in the Kitchen: Cooking, Talking, and the Making of Black Atlantic Traditions, Elizabeth Pérez explores and explains the value of food, religion, and culture within Black Atlantic communities. Through a deep exploration of how the preparation and consumption of food is not just sustenance for the physical body but a deeply spiritual and cultural act, Pérez describes how cooking and sharing meals serve as a vessel for preserving and transmitting Black traditions across generations. Pérez’s work emphasizes that the kitchen is a sacred space where African, African American, Afro-Caribbean, and Afro-Latino identities are constantly discussed and maintained. It’s not just about the recipes passed down or the ingredients that have been chosen; it’s about the rituals and conversations that come with the act of cooking. In these moments, the kitchen becomes a space of storytelling, spiritual reflection, and community bonding, where the past and present converge. The cooking and providing of offerings is a way to connect with the gods, provide them sustenance, and invite them into their home to be treated as a member of the family. By combining the rituals of cooking and eating with the religious rituals of participating in the worship of Orishas, there is a blending of the physical world and the spiritual world that allows family and friends to foster a sense of community while strengthening their connection with the supernatural entities. 

While I do not personally participate in the act of cooking and the kitchen rituals very often, I do find value in the preparation of food, whether for myself or others. One fond memory I have from my childhood is helping my parents during Thanksgiving by helping to prepare the cranberry sauce, standing on a stepstool very close to the hot stove, and stirring the pot while my mom oversaw me and praised me for a job well done, making me take pride in my work as we later ate it for dinner. The act of providing for others, be they human or a higher power, and sustaining traditions is very important, as it allows us to strengthen our connections with others and enjoy each other’s company.

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