Denver author Adrian Miller wins coveted James Beard Award

May 5, 2014

Denver author Adrian Miller, who writes about the synergy between cooking and culture, earned a James Beard Award Friday in New York City for his 2013 book, “Soul Food: The Surprising Story of an American Cuisine, One Plate at a Time.”

“It’s taken a while to sink in,” Miller told The Denver Post in a phone interview Saturday. “But it’s a really cool feeling.”

The book was honored in the reference-and-scholarship category. The James Beard Foundation Awards honor work in the culinary world.

In an interview with The Post shortly after the book appeared, Miller said that one of his goals was to demystify soul food.

“‘I’m trying to show that the commonality in soul food is more about class and economics than race,’ said Miller, who grew up in metro Denver and graduated from Smoky Hill High School in Aurora. ‘The food was originally a function of place, not race.’

“An attorney by training — he describes himself as a ‘recovering lawyer’ — Miller served as special assistant to former President Bill Clinton and as a policy analyst for ex-Gov. Bill Ritter. He is executive director of the Colorado Council of Churches.

“But food is one of his great passions, which he explores on his website, ‘Soul Food Scholar’ at adrianmiller.com.

Asked if he expected any changes in his life in the wake of the award, Miller told The Post. “Oh yeah, I think my phone calls will be returned …”

More at: http://www.denverpost.com/lifestyles/ci_25690751/denver-author-adrian-miller-wins-beard-award-soul.

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