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nerdgirl3000
December 24, 2021
Great article! And so accurate (based on the time I went there--it was quite the experience, lol--I was a kid but definitely remember it well). Except for one thing: Bobby Vidal was a bass player, not a percussionist. He was her sometime boyfriend, though.
SoulFoodLove
November 22, 2021
Great piece! I know it's been some time, but I just subscribed because of this article.
Julia H.
May 27, 2021
I am currently writing a novel loosely based on my childhood growing up in Manhattan in the 1970's. My father lived on St. Mark's Place, just around the corner from the original Princess Pamela's, from 1967 to 1977. My parents were divorced and I would ride the Lexington Avenue subway downtown from 96th Street to the East Village with him every Saturday so we could spend time together. An important food memory for me was going to Princess Pamela's for dinner with a group of my Dad's neighborhood friends - I was about 6 years old (it was probably 1969). I especially remember the corn bread - large, high squares of tangy flavor served hot with sweet butter and the ribs. I had never eaten large meaty ribs like that before this meal and was totally completely won over! I have been seeking out delicious ribs like that ever since. A few years ago I was writing a personal essay about food for a writing seminar and remembered how important that meal was for a little white girl who mother's cooking at that time was mostly Stouffer's frozen entrees and spaghetti sauce from a jar - and I looked up Princess Pamela on the internet and found very little but did get link to Amazon to buy an old copy of her original cookbook.
I was excited to read your piece about Princess Pamela here on Food 52 and to learn more about her life beyond what her wonderful, poetic cookbook offered me. Appreciate all the work you are doing to find out more about this amazing New Yorker and trial-blazing chef - who was not just an important figure in the history of soul food but in the history of the East Village and the communal gathering places that thrived there many years ago. Enjoyed reading your piece immensely🙏❤️
I was excited to read your piece about Princess Pamela here on Food 52 and to learn more about her life beyond what her wonderful, poetic cookbook offered me. Appreciate all the work you are doing to find out more about this amazing New Yorker and trial-blazing chef - who was not just an important figure in the history of soul food but in the history of the East Village and the communal gathering places that thrived there many years ago. Enjoyed reading your piece immensely🙏❤️
Stefanie A.
November 30, 2020
Thank you for this beautiful work. I never met the Princess, nor did I eat in any of her restaurants. But I did find her book, somehow, in 1970. I was 17 years old, living in the South. I knew soul food as my mother is from North Carolina and cooked this cuisine a lot. She taught me, and I loved the power and just everything about cooking. Still do.
Reading that cookbook was a revelation to me. It was and is not just a cookbook, it’s a work of literature..a soul bared. I loved it. I kept that little paperback and cooked from it. So many times in my life I’ve taken it from the shelf and read it; gained strength from her wisdom, and nourishment for my soul and body. She’d give me hope when I thought there was none. Many times in my life when someone asked me for a recipe of something they’d enjoyed at my table, I found myself adding the Princess Pamela quote of “Eat with loving kindness” at the end of the recipe. It seems so fitting. Food is supposed to be that way, isn’t it?
Thank you again. Reading your story gave me back parts of me. Dear Princess Pamela, I love you and wish you well, wherever you are. I’m so glad your story is now being told.
Reading that cookbook was a revelation to me. It was and is not just a cookbook, it’s a work of literature..a soul bared. I loved it. I kept that little paperback and cooked from it. So many times in my life I’ve taken it from the shelf and read it; gained strength from her wisdom, and nourishment for my soul and body. She’d give me hope when I thought there was none. Many times in my life when someone asked me for a recipe of something they’d enjoyed at my table, I found myself adding the Princess Pamela quote of “Eat with loving kindness” at the end of the recipe. It seems so fitting. Food is supposed to be that way, isn’t it?
Thank you again. Reading your story gave me back parts of me. Dear Princess Pamela, I love you and wish you well, wherever you are. I’m so glad your story is now being told.
Panda
June 7, 2020
Considering the people who reprinted her book could not find her, what did they do with the proceeds or book advance? Was any of this donated to a black organization, or a non profit benefiting southern black culinary students.. That would have been nice. I just really hope this is not another story of non blacks benefiting from the work of poor, southern blacks..
Cilantro
January 29, 2023
The Lee Brothers are reputable folks trying to keep Southern food real - giving credit where credit is due - they are good people - they are not out to ride off other folks- they are helping not hurting
Kenneth S.
December 2, 2019
I remember Princess Pamela as a most wonderful woman ,always a smile. I grew up in the East Village. Funny we were poor and my mother was a great cook and some how was working at the Little Kitchen. I went into the Little Kitchen abd asked my mother,how did you learn to cook soul food. Well I appreciate and thank Princess Pamela for employing my mother. Just got her box, I will try some receipe, they look easy. I will always remember.
KGB
November 1, 2019
Carrie Fisher once said that "celebrity is just obscurity biding its time." Princess Pamela's story underscores how fans flocked to be a part of her scene, take "selfies" as evidence that she let them in; yet, though a minor celebrity herself, having been in the newspaper and sought after by the likes of "more famous celebrities," she was forgotten and obviously alone or someone would know or at least have kept track of the cookbook royalties, if there ever were any. . .It's gross how we use other people's light.
jeffreyt2000
November 1, 2019
@KGB, not sure how you come to that opinion. The mid-70's to mid 90's were certainly NOT the selfie period we are in today. The pictures taken by the people were to capture the moment, to be able to remember the time. They weren't posted on-line and used as evidence of being in the cool place that so many selfie takers today are focused on showing. The atmosphere was to enjoy life and seek out places that were fun and unique.
By your reasoning, any popular restaurant, bar, chef, or unique experience from the 80's that people flocked to because of the unique driving force behind it would have achieved notoriety only because people "use other people's light".
Did people go to Roa's, Da Silvano's, CBGB's, Studio 54, Brownie's, etc to take selfie's and user other people's light? No.
By your reasoning, any popular restaurant, bar, chef, or unique experience from the 80's that people flocked to because of the unique driving force behind it would have achieved notoriety only because people "use other people's light".
Did people go to Roa's, Da Silvano's, CBGB's, Studio 54, Brownie's, etc to take selfie's and user other people's light? No.
Robert B.
December 2, 2019
The sheer ignorance of this comment makes me sick. Princess's story isn't about "fans" flocking to be "part of her scene" -- far from it. Selfies didn't exist, and if they did, she would have chucked you out the door when she saw the cellphone come out. I once asked about her about a photo of her with Jonathan Frid (Barnabas, Dark Shadows) on the wall, and she shot back "I don't talk about my friends, none of your business." Her restaurant was a little-known NY thing. Very special, probably illegal. It could be harrowing (you never knew what you might get in trouble for saying or doing) but it was also warm and loving and funny as hell. And the food was damn good. If you'd been a few times and passed Princess's sniff test (she HATED phonies), you might still get a reprimand or two, but with a twinkle in her eye. She was a lot of fun. And my god she could sing. It's a NY (or at least Manhattan) that doesn't exist anymore. Bless you, Princess, wherever you are.
Robert B.
December 2, 2019
I also got to dance with her a few times during the band solos. She'd say, "Gimme some of that good sugar" and pull me up from my seat. Quite a lady. Will always love her.
Sam B.
November 1, 2019
Maybe you could search for Visee Dubois and locate some of his relatives and see if they know anything?
Cleowhiskey
October 29, 2019
I think it's disturbing that you can barely see her in the color photographs--save for the glitter on her clothing to remind you she's there--but the white people shine out in contrast. Confirms the racial bias of color photography technology.
Michael
October 29, 2019
Sad that you had to turn a great story into a racial discussion, and this is why as minorities we are always fighting up hill. Know what you are fighting for and don’t just engage when there is no need.
Colette
October 29, 2019
Why is it a problem to point out the racial bias of the photography? Perhaps you also should look at what your fighting for. Race shouldn’t be something we are afraid to discuss.
KGB
November 1, 2019
I agree with you, considering that all the pictures she is in were from crappy 80s or earlier technology, a technology that didn't consider how ANYone looked. Have any of you seen polaroids or even instamatic camera prints that have actually survived 30 or 50 years, black people look like shadows and white people look like bright white alien ghosts. And people didn't look much better when the film first developed out of the camera. However, I also suspect that in deep in the past, the film companies were probably not testing their film on broad audience subjects, and focused on whites, just like the medical world focused on only white males in their studies or heart disease for decades, even though ALL women present differently.
Sam B.
November 1, 2019
If they had any knowledge of how to take a good picture the results would have been better. They could have used a film made for indoor shooting with a flash, adjusted the f-stop and moved Princess Pamela against a lighter background, she would have been the center of attention. As it was taken with poor technique, you blame an entire industry for racial bias. The film and camera manufactures spent tons of money on getting the true and life like colors of the subjects. Back then, unless you had the money to buy a quality SLR, a light meter and a good flash and the proper film, you had to use a crappy $100 camera that had no F-stop and a crappy lens. You should be happy and proud that her personality and cooking transcended racial stereotypes.
jeffreyt2000
November 1, 2019
Race should definitely not be something we are afraid to discuss, but implying that there is a racial motivation to the photos taken or used for the article, or that the film industry was racially biased in an article about a wonderful woman and the resuraction of her cookbook is silly at best (and I would normally use a stronger word than that).
The polaroid film and cameras were not good in low light situations and these were quick snaps taken to capture the moment. Look at the shots from 1986 - even the white people in the background are dark and harder to see while the people up front are too bright. That is because the flash on these cheap cameras blasted the close up subjects and the light didn't reach further back. This has nothing to do with the race of the subjects, simply to do with the person taking the picture not understanding how to take a good picture. Plus having a white object in the foreground (a cake in 1 picture and a napkin in the other) throws off the balance and instant film technology just could not handle the range caused by that glare in the foreground.
The pictures at the beginning of the article "Scenes from Princess Pamela's restaurant" are just bad shots where she was out of focus in on and the shutter speed too slow in the other.
In the shots labeled "Princess Pamela's restaurant in the 1980s" the colored people are very clear and in focus.
So no, this is not a race issue and it is wrong to try to turn it into that. The film industry was intent on capturing light where possible, but you need to understand the technology to use it properly. To imply that the film industry "tested their film" only on white people is just ridiculous. If the allegations here are true, then how do you explain the great photos from the 50's, 60's, 70's, and 80's of black leaders, athletes, performers, etc. Many of them with white people in the same frame. Look at the pictures of James Brown, Diahann Carroll, Sidney Poitier, and so many others.
The polaroid film and cameras were not good in low light situations and these were quick snaps taken to capture the moment. Look at the shots from 1986 - even the white people in the background are dark and harder to see while the people up front are too bright. That is because the flash on these cheap cameras blasted the close up subjects and the light didn't reach further back. This has nothing to do with the race of the subjects, simply to do with the person taking the picture not understanding how to take a good picture. Plus having a white object in the foreground (a cake in 1 picture and a napkin in the other) throws off the balance and instant film technology just could not handle the range caused by that glare in the foreground.
The pictures at the beginning of the article "Scenes from Princess Pamela's restaurant" are just bad shots where she was out of focus in on and the shutter speed too slow in the other.
In the shots labeled "Princess Pamela's restaurant in the 1980s" the colored people are very clear and in focus.
So no, this is not a race issue and it is wrong to try to turn it into that. The film industry was intent on capturing light where possible, but you need to understand the technology to use it properly. To imply that the film industry "tested their film" only on white people is just ridiculous. If the allegations here are true, then how do you explain the great photos from the 50's, 60's, 70's, and 80's of black leaders, athletes, performers, etc. Many of them with white people in the same frame. Look at the pictures of James Brown, Diahann Carroll, Sidney Poitier, and so many others.
Patti Z.
August 30, 2018
I was a kid in late sixties I lived on East 2 st
We all knew the regal lady who lived in 71
She was Princess Pamela
We kids knew she was special and she was nice.
Thank you for this article. I have thought about her often.
We all knew the regal lady who lived in 71
She was Princess Pamela
We kids knew she was special and she was nice.
Thank you for this article. I have thought about her often.
Mik
May 6, 2018
Mr. Sen, you are an extraordinary writer. Excellent craftsmanship. Congratulations on your award. Very well deserved. As to being able to find out what happened to her, along with the suggestions about checking with musicians that may have known her, it seems to me that she probably has family in her hometown (according to the account, she had an uncle) or descendants of her family that would have some knowledge of what happened to her. May be a good idea to look there.
Chuck D.
May 2, 2018
I had the honor of eating there in 1992 with the production staff at Comedy Central. This article brought back such wonderful memories of that wonderful place and now realizing I was also honored to hear her sing and play the piano, that night as well. I remember one of us kept running out to buy more wine. The food was absolutely the best soul food dinner of my life, It was a wonderful time that I will always treasure. Thank you for the article!!!
M
May 1, 2018
Really liked this piece, and that it led me to discover my own battered Princess Pamela book at a used shop. I hope this award, and awards by other 52 contributors and subjects, influences the content we'll see in the future.
monkeymom
May 1, 2018
Great job Mayukh! I hope that food52 keeps up with supporting this type of storytelling!
James
April 30, 2018
After the James Beard announcement, I happily read this article and then, as someone who is interested in genealogy, I looked up Pamela. I think Mayukh Sen has a few of the early dates wrong. From just doing a brief hunt around the internet, I was able to find the death certificates of both Addie and Rosella: Addie died in 1934, and Rosella died in 1939 (5 years after her mother). Rosella was one of many children, and shortly after she died, Pamela went to live with Rosella's brother Willie and his wife, in 1940. From my digging around I believe that Pamela's real name is Addie as she would have been 12 in 1940, which lines up with the rest of her life's story. She had one sister, maybe two, that of Anna(ie) Belle and Mary. Anna Belle also came and lived with their uncle Willie after their mother died. From the looks of it I think Pamela did have close family that she left behind when she left Spartanburg.
David R.
February 11, 2018
I was lucky enough to get to go to her upstairs restaurant several times in the late 70’s and early 80’s. Someone had told me about the place. We went and there was a small sign on the side of the building on the second floor that just said “Pamela” We rang the bell and the Princess stuck her head out of the window and yelled “whatchu want?” We called that up that we would like to have dinner and she buzzed us up. We had a magical night. Ada told that she had chicken and pork chops both in “sauce beautiful” the food was delicious and the Princess sat with us at our table the whole time and we talked about food and her and the famous people who came to the restaurant.
I went several times. Pamela always sat down with us to chat. And yes, if you went to the bathroom Ada would follow you and wait outside the door until you came out. I lost track after that and never even knew that she had moved to Houston street. It has always been a good story that i have enjoyed telling.
I went several times. Pamela always sat down with us to chat. And yes, if you went to the bathroom Ada would follow you and wait outside the door until you came out. I lost track after that and never even knew that she had moved to Houston street. It has always been a good story that i have enjoyed telling.
Robert B.
December 3, 2017
I adored Princess. I went to her restaurant on 1st and 1st many times in the late 80's and through the 90's. Oh, the stories! A night at Southern Touch was always an adventure, and never ever disappointed. She was one of a kind. I've always wondered what became of her -- and of Ada and Bobby. Her cookbook is a treasure, and I'm so glad it's been republished. Wherever you are, Princess, I love you and miss you ;-)
Li P.
September 27, 2017
I did not expect this article to be so emotional for me. And Rob Sacher your story made me even moreso. Thank you for writing this and thanks to those helping to revive her legacy.
Sam B.
November 1, 2019
agreed. I would like to know more about her, hopefully someday her fate will be shared.
Rob S.
August 20, 2017
I met the Princess two times in my life. The first time was when my parents took me to her restaurant, The Little Kitchen, where we had a wonderful meal and she entertained everyone in the restaurant with her singing and dancing while she cooked our meals at her stove which was on a side wall just a few feet away from where the four restaurant tables were located. It was like being in her home and she did put on a show. I was only about seven or eight and I guess it was back in 1968 or '69, I believe. It was such an extraordinary evening that my mom and I still talk about today.
The second time I met the Princess was many years later. It had always been my dream to open a cool indie rock club in Manhattan's East Village and I got to do that twice. The first time was when I opened a club called Mission (1989-1993) and the second club was called Luna Lounge (1995-2005).
Luna was on Ludlow Street which was across the street and half way down the block from where The Little Kitchen was located. I knew nothing of this and hardly could recall where the restaurant was that I had ate in with my parents when I was a little boy. I remembered the experience and the food but not the address or area of the city that we were in. But, one day I happened to be walking past 78 East 1st Street which is actually on the north side of East Houston Street and I noticed a tiny sign above the entrance to a very small restaurant. It read, "The Little Kitchen". And then it all came rushing back to me. In that moment, I recalled that one meal with the Princess more than twenty five years earlier.
It was in the middle of the afternoon and I decided to poke my head in the door and see if the room was still as I remembered from that one night so long ago. What happened next is permanently seared into my heart and memory. The door was unlocked and I looked in to see that there was no one in the restaurant except for the Princess. She was just sitting there by herself in the darkness, very much alone with her thoughts. I felt that I was intruding on her solitude and I also felt embarrassed to be so clumsy in the moment.
I asked her if she could tell me what nights the restaurant was open and what hours would she be there cooking. She looked at me and with a presence and power profound in a single sentence she told me that the restaurant was no longer open. I got the feeling that she was not well. I wanted to apologize for intruding upon her space but I simply said that I had eaten there many years earlier as a little boy and that now that I was living in the neighborhood I had hoped to have another meal there.
She just smiled at me from across the room. I was still standing at the entrance. I never crossed those several feet to where she was sitting. The space between her and myself on that day seemed as far as one side of the Grand Canyon to the other. I am sure that it was deep and wide.
I backed out of the doorway and closed it gently behind me and made my way west down Houston Street with her on my mind. I passed the building many times over the course of the next few weeks. It was always closed. The Little KItchen was gone. The Princess was gone. A month or two later, a new restaurant opened in that space. I went into it a few times just for the memory of seeing her and feeling her presence those two times in my life.
Coming across this book has made my day, today. And, wherever the Princess is, I hope I get to meet her one more time and express to her my sense of appreciation in knowing that she had touched my life, twice.
Rob Sacher
http://wakeme.net
The second time I met the Princess was many years later. It had always been my dream to open a cool indie rock club in Manhattan's East Village and I got to do that twice. The first time was when I opened a club called Mission (1989-1993) and the second club was called Luna Lounge (1995-2005).
Luna was on Ludlow Street which was across the street and half way down the block from where The Little Kitchen was located. I knew nothing of this and hardly could recall where the restaurant was that I had ate in with my parents when I was a little boy. I remembered the experience and the food but not the address or area of the city that we were in. But, one day I happened to be walking past 78 East 1st Street which is actually on the north side of East Houston Street and I noticed a tiny sign above the entrance to a very small restaurant. It read, "The Little Kitchen". And then it all came rushing back to me. In that moment, I recalled that one meal with the Princess more than twenty five years earlier.
It was in the middle of the afternoon and I decided to poke my head in the door and see if the room was still as I remembered from that one night so long ago. What happened next is permanently seared into my heart and memory. The door was unlocked and I looked in to see that there was no one in the restaurant except for the Princess. She was just sitting there by herself in the darkness, very much alone with her thoughts. I felt that I was intruding on her solitude and I also felt embarrassed to be so clumsy in the moment.
I asked her if she could tell me what nights the restaurant was open and what hours would she be there cooking. She looked at me and with a presence and power profound in a single sentence she told me that the restaurant was no longer open. I got the feeling that she was not well. I wanted to apologize for intruding upon her space but I simply said that I had eaten there many years earlier as a little boy and that now that I was living in the neighborhood I had hoped to have another meal there.
She just smiled at me from across the room. I was still standing at the entrance. I never crossed those several feet to where she was sitting. The space between her and myself on that day seemed as far as one side of the Grand Canyon to the other. I am sure that it was deep and wide.
I backed out of the doorway and closed it gently behind me and made my way west down Houston Street with her on my mind. I passed the building many times over the course of the next few weeks. It was always closed. The Little KItchen was gone. The Princess was gone. A month or two later, a new restaurant opened in that space. I went into it a few times just for the memory of seeing her and feeling her presence those two times in my life.
Coming across this book has made my day, today. And, wherever the Princess is, I hope I get to meet her one more time and express to her my sense of appreciation in knowing that she had touched my life, twice.
Rob Sacher
http://wakeme.net
Tony Q.
July 18, 2017
Mayukh Sen this is an awesome article of someone I have never heard about, you are bringing so much awareness to the unsung cooks of our era. kudos!
Colette
April 12, 2017
Such a special read, thanks for putting it together! I feel like it's such a reflection of POC food experiences, more than just a recipe and a good bite, but a whole body experience of community, history, music, and munching.
Vũ C.
March 20, 2017
i love your story. it's very interesting. i like her in story. she is very special .
http://hadosg-centrosagarden.com/
http://hadosg-centrosagarden.com/
Peter
February 23, 2017
I ate at her place in about 1979 when it was on the second floor of a building at 1st Avenue and 9th Street. She may have thrown the keys down to us, gaining access was complicated. Bobby was there playing drums but we immediately felt trapped, as if we were now there to provide Pamela with enough of our money and our attention before we could be released. It felt like a scam to fuel her habit, whatever her drug of choice was. I had gone with a girlfriend with southern roots and I was expecting to discover another Edna Lewis, another Cafe Nicholson but instead the food was little more than a suggestion of southern cooking. She may have better moments but this wasn't entering someone's life on a downward spiral.
Jen A.
February 22, 2017
I had the great misfortune of getting locked in that restaurant one night, the one on Houston St. Music so loud, place pitch black you couldn't see what you were eating. She was like a bossy crazy person who had the keys to the asylum. Was never so happy as when she "allowed" us to leave. A nightmare. Funny to see a story about her.
Lynnie
February 22, 2017
One more thing... in the "Hmmm..." category: her name is on the reissue of her iconic book. But, she has been m.i.a. since '98. So... where are the profits of this reissue going?
Kdlz
October 26, 2017
That's what I'm curious to know... no known family children etc who is profiting?
KGB
November 1, 2019
I thought that, too. Hopefully, to solve some of the issues this writer delves into.
Lynnie
February 22, 2017
Great thanks to you Mayukh Sen for this rich, beautiful piece on Princess Pamela. It is truly noteworthy. I have had her original cookbook for at least 25 years, probably longer. It was long considered THE definitive urban soul food manifesto, and I have always enjoyed her own gems of worldly wisdom as much as the recipes... and I learned hella lot from those. Although based in the SF Bay Area, I long have been deeply involved in the jazz community and it was through musician friends I was tipped to Princess Pamela. It is my understanding that her relationship to the musician community went beyond that with her other patrons/customers. That would seem to be the most likely lead to track down what became of her. I would float those images of the two musicians in the film clip to NYC musicians: someone will know them, I guarantee that. And check in with the older artists who may have frequented her place.... there is a lot of lore that stays within the musical community... folks know. Just a thought, but one that is aging and the musicians that would have hung with her are aging and passing as well. For sure there were folks eating w/her right up to 1998 and would know what went down... Love and respect to you.
lemons
February 22, 2017
I found the original cookbook, a paperback when I was in college and raising two children on commodities, the precursor to food stamps. Oxtails were 59 cents a pound, and I cooked from that book like there was no tomorrow. But there was a tomorrow, I got through college, my children thrived and I cooked on, building on what I'd picked up there. I still make oxtails from her recipe. It was also the first cobbler I'd ever seen that wasn't piecrust-based. She kept me sane.
LisaPatterson
February 22, 2017
Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful story, great job....this really made my day! :)
Joan P.
February 22, 2017
Joan Potter
I still have my Princess Pamela Soul Food Cookbook paperback. The front cover is missing, the pages are brown and crumbling, and it's held together with Scotch tape. I never visited her restaurant, but I remember eating at a place called The Pink Teacup in the same era.
I still have my Princess Pamela Soul Food Cookbook paperback. The front cover is missing, the pages are brown and crumbling, and it's held together with Scotch tape. I never visited her restaurant, but I remember eating at a place called The Pink Teacup in the same era.
Mayukh S.
February 22, 2017
Thank you all for the very kind comments! Means a lot.
Richard M.
June 19, 2019
I had one opportunity to go to the Little Kitchen. My friend Joel Forrester was playing there in her house band. The players were all excellent, and the Princess favored hard bop if I remember correctly. I was able to sit at the bands’ table and had a slice of sweet potato pie. It was pure heaven. In fact, my daughter made a sweet potato pie for Father’s Day this week and that triggered my memory of meeting Princess Pamela, hearing her sing, and having that incredible pie. Joel is in NYC and fairly well known—he might have stories and connections to musicians who were part of the band. This was a great read and you did a fabulous job on this story!
Tracy M.
February 21, 2017
Thank you for this insightful article on the life of culinary doyenne Princess Pamela! Yes there are many many Black Women whose stories are yet to be told!
Jane G.
February 19, 2017
In the 1980's at Crook's Corner in Chapel Hill, NC, when Chef/Owner Bill Neal was at the helm, Princess Pamela's Buttermilk Pie was a regular on the menu.
Jennifer T.
February 13, 2017
Fabulous article! Thanks for the eye-opener - the cookbook is now on my list.
Greta H.
February 12, 2017
This is the most interesting story I have ever read about food. Her story is inspiring, yet sad. The loss she experienced at such a young age, the strength and courage she had to eventually branch out on her own-, to her myserious disappearance is indeed intriguing and worthy of being played out on the big screen. I hope the writer of this article is a part of such a thing should it happen because I was drawn in-, wonderful piece.
kimikoftokyo
February 6, 2017
This sings to me a bittersweet story. Her bane suck bliss and her way of life so lovely. I wish she knew how intriguing she is to generations today. It shows great food and bonding will never be forgotten. Also that everyone will not like your food. We taste differently.
Printz P.
February 5, 2017
The original edition, 1969 and this new revised Lee brothers version are available on Amazon.
Naomi J.
February 5, 2017
I really enjoyed this story it was very well written . I wish I could of known her . I would like to know how can I purchase her book ?
Printz P.
February 5, 2017
I've had this book for years and enjoyed cooking from it. It always brought brings special memories of time forgotten by most. It's good to see this renewed interested but speaks so strongly to the divide between people in our country.
Deborah W.
February 5, 2017
Good article. I hope to to keep the tradition alive in cooking by getting the book. I really hope that someone have some vital information that can help you find her. Where can I get a copy of the hard back. Thanks
Deborah
Deborah
miznic
February 5, 2017
I really hope there is an epilogue for this story. I'd love to know what happened to Princess Pamela, too.
Alisha D.
February 5, 2017
I snapped up two of her paperback cookbooks a few years back and knew they were special like her! There aren't too many great soul food cookbooks around...eyeing the recipes, I knew Princess Pamela was the real deal. I only wish I could have experienced her Little Kitchen in person. Rest easy, Princess, knowing you've kept the flame burning for soul food aficionados.
Denise T.
February 5, 2017
A very interesting story I would like to know the end. Is Princess Pamela retired? Anyone with info should contact this site.
Whiteantlers
February 2, 2017
I always look for your articles and this is one of the best ones yet. Thanks so much for what you contribute.
Jenny H.
February 2, 2017
Loved reading this - I just wrote about this book and a few other February releases and was wondering myself what became of her. I linked to your piece in my article and I shared the link to this article in The Cookbook Junkies.
Anne
February 2, 2017
Thank you for this. I lived in NYC 1988-1993 and never knew about her. I so wish I had. What an amazing person.
MarZig
February 2, 2017
Fantastic read. I must have a copy of this books. Princess Pamela sounds fascinating. Hope he researchers find out what happened to her.
ChefJune
February 2, 2017
Great article, Mayukh. :)
Sheila Anderson who is a DJ at WBGO (88.3 FM, Newark Public Radio) THE Jazz station in this region -- might have some later information. Sheila is known in Jazz circles as the "Queen of Hang." I can't believe I did not hear of her before The Jemima Code came out. Really excited for the book.
Sheila Anderson who is a DJ at WBGO (88.3 FM, Newark Public Radio) THE Jazz station in this region -- might have some later information. Sheila is known in Jazz circles as the "Queen of Hang." I can't believe I did not hear of her before The Jemima Code came out. Really excited for the book.
Alice N.
February 2, 2017
Great read, thanks! I don't know nothing about soul food and I doubt I'll ever get the chance to try the real stuff but this was a delightful post.
Ed
February 2, 2017
One or two comments: Princess moved her restaurant to 1st and 1st by 1986 or 1987, when I started going there. There was a WONDERFUL photo of a clearly discomfited Andy Warhol being hugged by Princess up at the restaurant. The photo of Princess from GQ was NOT from 1997, it was hanging in the restaurant in 1986. But this is minor carping about a wonderful article about a unique woman and a unique place. I wish I could go back there for a night, and see Princess seated on her throne again (yes, she had a throne).
Alexander L.
February 22, 2017
I remember princess Pamela I had her cookbooks and cooked many recipes from the now crumbling pages. I remember going there to hear Gil Coggins play the famous pianist out of sugar hill area formerly wit Miles Davis unfortunately he passed away.all I can remember were pams favorite recipes it really got me to cooking soul food it the restaurant was around Ave A somewhere NYC wish I could find the cookbook Would like to buy new adition of book.
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