At Honeysuckle in North Philadelphia, the goal is not just to feed customers’ bellies with delicious food options, but to also feed their minds with powerful narratives.
What may look like a simple piece of bread, some cheese, and a dab of marmalade, actually has a deeper narrative behind it, writes Jason Sheehan for Philadelphia Magazine.
That aforementioned course was inspired by Octavia Butler’s novel Parable of the Sower.
Those familiar with the reference may immediately get the correlation, while those who aren’t may then discover a new interest.
That’s the way Honeysuckle’s owners Omar Tate and Cybille St. Aude-Tate want it. They want to tell a story, and are able to do so through its many dishes.
For example, the fried mushroom, which is spiced and battered is a commentary on fast food.
The vegetable platter is a narrative about restraint.
Honeysuckle is the evolution of the couple’s former University City eatery, Honeysuckle Provisions.
While the former was aimed at uplifting and glorifying Black foodways, this newer version aims to honor Black cuisine from ancestors. To this end, it places food of the African diaspora front and center.
Read more about Honeysuckle and the narratives you’ll discover through its carefully-crafted dishes in Philadelphia Magazine.
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