Oh, good Gravy! Make that, good award-winning Gravy!

Gravy the quarterly print journal and bi-weekly podcast of the Southern Foodways Alliance has just been named the 2015 Publication of the Year by the James Beard Foundation. The Publication of the Year award honors fresh direction, worthy ambition, and a forward-looking approach to food journalism.

Gravy, the journal, lands in the mailboxes of SFA members four times a year.  Gravy, the podcast, hits the cyber-airwaves every other week. Both serve up fresh, unexpected, and thought-provoking stories of an American South that is constantly evolving, accommodating new immigrants, adopting new traditions, and lovingly maintaining old ones.

Sara Camp Arnold Milam, Gravy’s managing editor, joined Team SFA just a few years ago.  She took over a publication printed in black and white, staple bound, and a mere 12 pages in length.  Under her leadership, the journal has grown to a full color, 60 page, perfect bound beauty bursting with smart words, intriguing illustrations, and arresting photographs.  In her spare time, Sara Camp pinch hits as a writer on the SFA blog, works as a producer for Greenhouse films, and along with John T Edge, serves as co-executive producer of Gravy the podcast.

The SFA’s quest to dig into lesser-known corners of the region, complicate stereotypes, document new dynamics, and give voice to the unsung folk who grow, cook, and serve our daily meals couldn’t be contained in a single publication.  So, in 2014, we launched Gravy the podcast. Produced and hosted by Tina Antolini, Salt Institute graduate and NPR veteran, audio Gravy hit the airwaves running. Ten episodes in, loyal listeners anxiously await each helping, served up every other Thursday morning.

You’ve come a long way, Gravy!