Between Harlem and Heaven

Watch: Chefs JJ Johnson & Alexander Smalls Discuss Their Book 'Between Harlem & Heaven' on The Breakfast Club.

Iconic chef Alexander Smalls and James Beard nominated chef J. J. Johnson debut their first ever cookbook as an homage to the food and cultural significance of Harlem and the Afro-Asian diaspora. “The Asian diaspora has crisscrossed the African diaspora, throughout history and, most powerfully, on the plate. I’ve traveled the world eating and studying, cooking and exploring.“

The cookbook you are holding in your hands is about digging deep into our American heritage and setting the table with simple ingredients and bold flavors, presented in an entirely new way. Whether you’re serving something as simple as our mac and cheese with rosemary and a side of our okra fries for a Meatless Monday supper or if you’re feeding a crowd with our Afro-Asian-American gumbo, we know that these are meals that are steeped with the flavors of Harlem, that one-of-a-kind uptown hospitality and grace.” —ALEXANDER SMALLS