Sacramento Chefs Showcase Plant-Based Soul Food Recipes

By Madelaine Church | Special to The OBSERVERHow about a plate of vegan shrimp and sausage, paired with five-cheese-blend Italian pasta? That was one of many healthy soul food creations served up at the Sacramento Juneteenth Black Chefs Collaborative’s healthy soul food cooking demonstration and tasting Nov. 16 at City Church in Oak Park.The collaborative is a component of Sacramento Juneteenth Inc. Executive Director Gary Simon was moved to start it when he noticed a lack of diversity in soliciting chefs for the annual Farm-to-Fork Festival.The Black Chefs Collaborative’s mission is to showcase a coalition of Sacramento’s finest creations by Black culinary professionals creating healthy cuisine. The free cooking demonstration and tasting was designed to inspire attendees to experience healthier versions of traditional soul food and offered comforting, delicious and nutritious alternative dishes. Soul food is often considered unhealthy due to its high level of sugar, fat and sodium levels.“We wanted to address the disparities in our health care,” Simon said. “It feels good we’re here. We needed this, and it feels good we’re paying attention.”A snapshot of Nicole Williams layout of her entree and sides for attendees to taste during her cooking demonstration at City Church on Saturday, Nov....