?zmir, Ankara, Adana, Gaziantep, and Istanbul. I’ve met many kind people learned and ate much and tried to share as much as I know about Louisiana and African American foodways and of course, Roots Cuisine. It was a pleasure and a privilege to be to share, learn, and, of course, eat throughout those three weeks.

My intention was to include, in one post, highlights from each city that I visited. But as I have begun to reflect, it seems to me that the experience deserves more. I am still processing all of it and have described the trip to friends who’ve inquired, as one that was “good.” It was thought-provoking, enchanting, frustrating, exhausting, exhilarating, and…I’m sure many more descriptors will pop into my head in the coming days and weeks.

For now, though, I’d like to share a short clip of the highlights of my stay in Istanbul. For that stay, I’d like to thank Sevil, Kim, and all of the other men and women who made things possible. A special thanks to Cem who showed me the city and taught me, well, much.