Celebrating Juneteenth with Nicole Taylor, plus chefs we’re rooting for

By Robyn Doyon-Aitken ,

Chef Plum, Catie Talarski, Meg Dalton, Katrice Claudio, Maricarmen Cajahuaringa, Stephanie Stender, Tagan Engel

Published June 6, 2023 at 5:56 PM EDT

Nicole A. Taylor is a James Beard Award-nominated writer and the author of three cookbooks.

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Nicole A. Taylor is a James Beard Award-nominated food writer and the author of three cookbooks. Her latest is Watermelon & Red Birds. It's the first cookbook devoted to Juneteenth.

Provided / Kaylin James

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Watermelon & Red Birds by Nicole A. Taylor is the first cookbook devoted to Juneteenth.

Chef Marcarena Ludena Jimenez of the family owned and operated Peruvian restaurant Coracora in West Hartford, Conn. The restaurant is nominated for a James Beard Award in the "Outstanding Restaurant" category.

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Chef Marcarena Ludena Jimenez of Coracora in West Hartford, Conn. The the family owned and operated Peruvian restaurant is nominated for a James Beard Award in the "Outstanding Restaurant" category.

Ayannah Brown / Connecticut Public

4 of 5 — Cora Cora James Beard Award

Mother of CEO/Owner Grecia Ludena and Head Chef Macarena Ludena smile as they are commemorated for becoming a national finalist in the James Beard Awards. Family run and owned Peruvian restaurant Coracora was named as a finalist for the James Beard Foundation Awards in the "Outstanding Restaurant" category. Governor Ned Lamont, West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor, and other government officials came to the restaurant celebrate and commemorate the occasion.

Ayannah Brown / Connecticut Public

5 of 5 — Cora Cora James Beard Award

The family run and owned Peruvian restaurant Coracora in West Hartford was named as a finalist for the James Beard Foundation Awards in the "Outstanding Restaurant" category.

Ayannah Brown / Connecticut Public

Seasoned producer Katrice Claudio speaks with food writer and cookbook author Nicole A. Taylor about her book Watermelon & Red Birds: A Cookbook for Juneteenth and Black Celebrations.

Plus, get to know chef Macarena Ludena Jimenez of Coracora in West Hartford. Connecticut Public reporter Maricarmen Cajahuaringa sits down with Macarena to discuss the cultural importance of Peruvian food and celebrate the restaurant’s recent James Beard Award nomination in the “Outstanding Restaurant” category.

And, we’re cheering Chef Plum on ahead of the 2023 regional Emmy Awards ceremony. His series Restaurant Road Trip is nominated for three awards.

GUESTS:

Nicole A. Taylor: Author of Watermelon & Red Birds: A Cookbook for Juneteenth and Black Celebrations
Macarena Ludena Jimenez: Head Chef and CEO of Coracora in West Hartford, Conn.

FEATURED RECIPES:
Southern-ish Potato Salad
Miso Bloody Mary

LOCAL SHOUT OUTS:
Looking for Black-owned food business to support? Check out Katrice's picks for food and drink lovers who also want an experience:
The Art of Yum
Semilla Cafe + Studio
The Social House

This show was produced by Robyn Doyon-Aitken, Catie Talarski, Meg Dalton, Katrice Claudio, Stephanie Stender, Meg Fitzgerald, Tagan Engel and Sabrina Herrera. Maricarmen Cajahuaringa contributed to this episode.

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