What is soul food? -- West Africa: the culinary source -- From southern to soul -- Fried chicken and the integration of church and plate -- Catfish and other double swimmers -- Chitlins: a love story -- Black-eyed peas: what's luck got to do it? -- How did macaroni and cheese get so black? -- Sometimes I feel like motherless greens -- Candied yams: West African in name, but not in taste -- Cornbread: drop it like it's hot bread! -- Hot sauce: the best medicine ever? -- What's sweet, red, and drunk from a jelly jar? hint: liquid soul! -- Give me some sugar: the glory of soul food desserts -- Whither soul food?