Between Harlem and Heaven

This award-winning volume of recipes and stories "presents a captivatingly original cuisine . . . packed with unique and delicious layers of flavor" (Sean Brock).

In two of the most renowned and historic venues in Harlem, Alexander Smalls and JJ Johnson created a unique take on the Afro-Asian-American flavor profile. They drew on their extensive travels through the African diaspora and their deep knowledge of how African, Asian, and African-American influences criss-crossed cuisines all around the world. In Between Harlem and Heaven, Smalls and Johnson share their love for this truly global cuisine through more than 100 recipes, personal reflections, and essays on topics ranging from the history of Minton's Jazz Club to the melting pot that is Harlem.


This acclaimed cookbook goes far beyond "soul food" to celebrate the rich intersection of the African and Asian diasporas. Giving homage to this cultural culinary path and the grievances and triumphs along the way, Between Harlem and Heaven isn't fusion, but a glimpse into a cuisine that made its way into the thick of Harlem's cultural renaissance.

Winner of the James Beard Award for Best American Cookbook