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The Soul Of Sandra’s Reincarnated

by Jeremy Lent | Jun 28, 2010 2:07 pm

(25) Comments | Commenting has been closed | E-mail the Author

Posted to: Food, The Hill

Thomas MacMillan Photo Congress Avenue has a new soul food restaurant—and a “nu” soul food restaurant, too.

Fiancees Steven Ross and Shayla Crawford opened the new restaurant, Cast Iron Soul, across from the John C. Daniels School on Congress Avenue this weekend.

Shayla Crawford, who’s 25, calls the cuisine “nu soul,” a scattering of healthful alternatives to traditional deep-South, deep-fried dishes.

Jeremy Lent Photo “Sometimes people don’t want fried or smoked pork chops—they want them grilled,” said Crawford, also pointing out the menu’s Spanish and Caribbean influences. (Crawford’s main culinary inspiration, her mother, is from Jamaica.) Stephen Ross, who’s 31, is the co-owner and head chef.

They opened their restaurant down the street from the former home of Sandra’s, a popular soul food restaurant that operated first on Congress Avenue, then on Whitney Avenue, for 17 years before closing in 2008.

Cast Iron Soul is a cozy space with six tables and deep-red walls—the color of barbecue sauce.

Ross and Crawford met working at the old Sandra’s 10 years ago. Ross had just started as a line cook, Crawford as a server. Ross, who went on to cook at Zinc and Barcelona before attending the Connecticut Culinary Institute, credited Sandra Harris and the other chefs he’s worked under for helping him get to where he was on Saturday.

“They taught me about flavor, about the mindset of being a chef and about putting everything together for a meal,” Ross said. “Today, I’m showing that I appreciate what they did for me—taking my skills and doing something with it.”

Ross’s culinary influences go back to his mother and grandparents, who cooked Southern food for him as he grew up. His grandparents, Mildred and Bishop Ronnie Brayboy, were among the first customers on Saturday. They sat down quietly and, this time, let their grandson do the work.

“I’m so glad to see him doing something constructive,” said Bishop Ronnie Brayboy, originally from South Carolina and now living with Mildred in Bridgeport. For his part, Ross said that he’d soon be adding his grandfather’s famous sauce to the menu.

Saturday at Cast Iron Soul was largely a family affair, with both Ross’s and Crawford’s siblings on hand to serve food and work the register. Crawford’s mother spearheaded the restaurant in the first place: After watching Ross and Crawford run their own New Haven-based catering business, Cast Iron Catering, for two years, she thought it was time for them to settle down—at least cooking-wise. Without telling either of them, she set out to look for a suitable place for a restaurant. Only after she found the Congress Avenue location this past May, as Crawford recalled, did she call the two to say, “Come over here. I want you to take a look at something.”

Minutes after opening, Ross and Crawford already had a line of customers. Renard Jowers was among them, and in between bites of blackened catfish and spare ribs, praised the return of Southern cooking to New Haven’s Southwest.

“We’re lacking a lot of things in this neighborhood,” Jowers said, “and soul food was one of them.”

By coincidence, the night before the opening, local curator and writer Frank Mitchell stepped onto to the Long Wharf Theatre stage to talk about the need, in New Haven and elsewhere, to “recapture authentic regional foodways,” and to avoid generic cuisine.

Mitchell was the guest lecturer at Friday night’s performance of “Chautauqua!”, a play by the National Theater of the United States of America. After the show, Mitchell expressed fond memories of Sandra’s.

Mitchell then expressed surprise when told by a reporter that a new soul food restaurant would be opening in New Haven the very next day. Some wishes come true.

Comments

posted by: Alphonse Credenza on June 28, 2010 3:44pm

Looks clean and inviting. I’d like to stop in, but what are the hours? What’s the address?

(550 Congress Ave.. 203-495-8400. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) . http://www.castironsoul.com )

posted by: Threefifths on June 28, 2010 5:05pm

When will our people wake up. This soul food is kill the Black community.We lead as a community with High Blood pressure,Diabetes and High Cholesterol,And Obesity. I like what Dick Gregory said about Soul Food.

The above quote is by Dick Gregory, civil rights activist, comedian, and nutritional liberationist, who has spent much of his adult life advocating that people in America—particularly African-Americans—cannot obtain true social justice until we begin to question our post-industrial unhealthy dietary practices and food beliefs.

Gregory believes that the high-saturated fatty, sugar-laden, meaty-dairy, junk food dietary practice of Black America is at the root of many of our social justice problems.

Gregory’s concerns, voiced decades ago, ring especially true for today’s Black population in the United States of America whose health has been compromised due to our diets and inadequate health care. Gregory states:

“I personally would say that the quickest way to wipe out a group of people is to put them on a Soul Food diet. One of the tragedies is that the very folks in the Black community who are most sophisticated in terms of the political realities in this country are nonetheless advocates of ‘Soul Food’. They will lay down a heavy rap on genocide in America with regard to Black folks, then walk into a Soul Food restaurant and help the genocide along.”

, civil rights activist, comedian, and nutritional liberationist, who has spent much of his adult life advocating that people in America—particularly African-Americans—cannot obtain true social justice until we begin to question our post-industrial unhealthy dietary practices and food beliefs.

Gregory believes that the high-saturated fatty, sugar-laden, meaty-dairy, junk food dietary practice of Black America is at the root of many of our social justice problems.

posted by: Drury on June 28, 2010 5:15pm

Shayla was my student MANY years ago. One of my first students at Career. It is so great seeing that she is giving to the community.

I will be stopping in for some good food.

When school gets back in, I hope she’ll come talk to my students.

posted by: Ms.K on June 28, 2010 6:39pm

Threefifths,
If you read the article, it stated that the restaurant was a healthy alternative to traditional southern food. Experience before you judge. I wish them all the best.

posted by: @threefifths on June 28, 2010 8:40pm

Dude, you repeated yourself. Why?

posted by: CalvinB on June 28, 2010 9:09pm

WTF ? The first few blocks of Congress Ave. is all Hospital. The last few blocks are nothing, and in between is Spanish people.
If your trying to set up a museum for African Neighborhood of lore ? then yes , Like most of Harlem has become, take a guided tour of a former famous Black community,...

posted by: mj on June 29, 2010 7:15am

The old Sandra’s is now SOUL BURGER a recently opened spot with Real good food! Check it out. Soul Burger 2 coming soon!

posted by: STYLENE on June 29, 2010 7:51am

@MS K.- THANK YOU. YOU TOOK THE WORDS RIGHT OUT OF MY MOUTH.

GOOD LUCK TO THESE YOUNG PEOPLE.

posted by: Threefifths on June 29, 2010 11:01am

posted by: Ms.K on June 28, 2010 6:39pm
Threefifths,
If you read the article, it stated that the restaurant was a healthy alternative to traditional southern food. Experience before you judge. I wish them all the best.

Did you read the article.Here is Shayla Crawford statement.“Sometimes people don’t want fried or smoked pork chops—they want them grilled,” said Crawford.

When did grilled pork chops become a healthy alternative? you need to read the history of pork.Did you know that pigs are used as garbage disposal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1X0WWmuHWDU&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiysA72i78k&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5K0SEiIGqGk&feature=related

Bacon as a Weapon of Mass Destruction.

http://www.indypendent.org/2009/07/23/bacon-as-weapon/
I have Experience before I judge. and that is why I and more people are not puting that garbage in our Temple.

posted by: @threefifths on June 28, 2010 8:40pm
Dude, you repeated yourself. Why?

Dude so you can point it out to me.

posted by: mj on June 29, 2010 7:15am
The old Sandra’s is now SOUL BURGER a recently opened spot with Real good food! Check it out. Soul Burger 2 coming soon

More mad cow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbKRSYAuSNg

posted by: STYLENE on June 29, 2010 7:51am
@MS K.- THANK YOU. YOU TOOK THE WORDS RIGHT OUT OF MY MOUTH.

GOOD LUCK TO THESE YOUNG PEOPLE

I hope you can take this out of you mouth.

http://www.dherbs.com/articles/how-eliminate-meat-diet-424.html

Check out what soul food real is.

S for salt and check out what salt will do to you.

http://www.dherbs.com/articles/salt-30.html

O is for Oil

U is for Undertaker

L is for Lard

F is for Fat

O is for Oil

D is for Death

And that is how you spell soul food.

Thank Good for the EDGE OF THE WOODS and Elaine’s Healthy Choice the real healthy alternative to traditional southern food.

posted by: STYLENE on June 29, 2010 12:02pm

@threefifths- take a deep breath! try to encourage!! anything in moderation is fine. you are clearly smarter than the rest of the world. please by all means, share some more knowledge. im guessing you are the epitome of good health. good for you! encourage the young couple for having their own business. have a great day!

posted by: GiGi on June 29, 2010 12:16pm

One of the problems we have as African Americans is that we never are able to encourage or support one another and continue to have the crab in a barrel syndrome. Instead of negative remarks and pulling one another down, we should be supporting and congratulating this young couple in their efforts to be productive and enterprising. It’s sad to say that if either one of them had become a rapper or a sports figure, there would be non-stop praise.

Congrats Shayla and Stephen on you endeavors, and may God bless you with much success!

posted by: jane doe on June 29, 2010 2:47pm

First of all, good luck to Crawford and Ross. I hope they are very successful.

To Three Fifths and all of the others with negative comments:

Is ANY food good for you any more? Soul food, fast food, Chinese food…all of it will take you out if you eat too much of it.

This is an unhealthy planet with many many unhealthy choices. Each of us is responsible for our own moderation of consumption.

As a black person, I am more offended by black restaurants (and black businesses in general) that take my business for granted—evidenced by shabby settings that are never updated and the worst offense of all-NO AIR CONDITIONING!!! How dare you??!!!

Crawford and Ross have a nice inviting website. If their restaurant is as pristine, I will most certainly stop by.

posted by: streever on June 29, 2010 3:47pm

3/5ths, maybe you’d be more chill if you just ate a little meat & stopped freaking out? I can only assume you are a vegan between this & your long and hard to follow rant about cheese being a superweapon designed to kill people by the US Government, with citations from a company selling unregulated herbal supplements that have been shown to have dangerous side-effects.

Best luck to these entrepreneurs! I will definitely try out their food. It’s good to eat a little fat now and again :)

posted by: Jonathan Hopkins on June 29, 2010 5:30pm

3/5s,
I think everyone can agree that people should eat at restaurants like this for every meal of every day, but what you seem to not get is that there’s nothing wrong with eating here, or other places, every once in a while.

Its a beautiful building and block, for the matter, and I’m glad a business was able to open and not leave a vacant building. Hopefully I’ll be able to stop by in the next couple weeks, good luck guys!

posted by: Threefifths on June 29, 2010 6:10pm

posted by: STYLENE on June 29, 2010 12:02pm
@threefifths- take a deep breath! try to encourage!! anything in moderation is fine. you are clearly smarter than the rest of the world. please by all means, share some more knowledge. im guessing you are the epitome of good health. good for you! encourage the young couple for having their own business. have a great day!

I take a deep breath everyday as I meditate. Let me ask you someting.You said that anything in moderation is fine.What you say the same thing about smoking? Would you say that hard core drugs are good in in moderation. I don’t think so.

posted by: GiGi on June 29, 2010 12:16pm
One of the problems we have as African Americans is that we never are able to encourage or support one another and continue to have the crab in a barrel syndrome

The problem with the crab in a barrel syndrome.
Put a bunch of crabs in a barrel. As one draws closer to the top of his barrel, nearing his escape, one of the other crabs would reach up and pull his fellow crab back down. Another one goes up, another one comes down.Gave me a break.If the crab at the top knew that it was going to a pot of boiling hot water to be a meal for some one,I bet none of them would leave the barrel!!!!

Instead of negative remarks and pulling one another down, we should be supporting and congratulating this young couple in their efforts to be productive and enterprising. It’s sad to say that if either one of them had become a rapper or a sports figure, there would be non-stop praise.

Show me where I made negative remarks.In fact I base my remarks on medical studies.In fact Go to your doctor and ask about foods you should eat and not eat. In fact How come If you have a heart attack the first thing the doctors does is take you off of Red meats,Tells you to stop smoking and no alcohol.If the doctor told you this,would you say the doctor is being negative!!!

posted by: jane doe on June 29, 2010 2:47pm
First of all, good luck to Crawford and Ross. I hope they are very successful.

To Three Fifths and all of the others with negative comments:

Is ANY food good for you any more? Soul food, fast food, Chinese food…all of it will take you out if you eat too much of it.

I agree with you.But the question should be why is all of these Soul food, fast food, Chinese food in community’s of color.
Feel free to read this.

Fast Food: Oppression Through Poor Nutrition

http://www.diversityinc.com/platform/1757/images/31317284.pdf

This is an unhealthy planet with many many unhealthy choices. Each of us is responsible for our own moderation of consumption.

What part of the planet are you on.This is not true. Mediterranean countries have one of the best diets.

http://www.lenoxhillhospital.org/ADAM/Care Guides/28/000283.aspx

Can give you a answer on this one. You lost me in your meat sauce.

posted by: streever on June 29, 2010 3:47pm
3/5ths, maybe you’d be more chill if you just ate a little meat & stopped freaking out? I can only assume you are a vegan between this & your long and hard to follow rant about cheese being a superweapon designed to kill people by the US Government, with citations from a company selling unregulated herbal supplements that have been shown to have dangerous side-effects.

Hey DUDE!!!! you still going to the Cheese truck.Still with the crooked two party system.Any way to answer you.You said the unregulated herbal supplements that have been shown to have dangerous side-effects.How about the regulated Tainted meat that is sold.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/31/us/31meat.html?_r=1&ref=michael_moss

To all I will say this Check this you tube out. And take your chance’s

http://video.nytimes.com/video/2009/10/03/health/1247464978948/tainted-meat.html

Go vegan.

posted by: streever on June 29, 2010 10:37pm

Oh 3/5ths. I don’t know what to say to you. The target demographic of the cheese truck are amongst the healthiest, longest-lived people on earth. Youtube doesn’t tell you what’s what, man.

Why not just be happy for these people that they started a business and are trying to do something with their lives? ...

posted by: CeCe Pinewood on June 29, 2010 11:47pm

....I stopped into Cast Iron Soul for lunch today and was blown away by the kind people working and amazing aromas in the air. The food was excellent. And I encourage every one whose reading this article to go. By the way threefifths their was only one red meat dish on the menu so chill out. Angry!

posted by: yohance35 on June 30, 2010 1:40am

@ threefifths

It helps for consumers to have access to all the information about their food, where it comes from, and how it’s raised and cooked for us to make smart decisions, so I applaud you for your diligent advocacy and numerous links.

That being said, some sources are more reliable than others. Moreover, however, I think the “holier-than-thou” vegan overtone is a little much. People should have access to all the information about what they’re putting into their bodies so they can make informed decisions, but at the end of the day it’s still their personal decision. Stop being so aggressive; nobody’s dismissing your message, but you don’t need to shove it down our throats.

posted by: Jamara Newell on June 30, 2010 2:00am

I might give it a try, but doubt it, I prefer my food to be traditional. Still I am happy to see them open a business and wish them the best.

posted by: Jamara Newell on June 30, 2010 2:03am

I might give it a try, but doubt it, I prefer my food to be traditional. Still I am happy to see them open a business and wish them the best.
...

posted by: STYLENE on June 30, 2010 6:20am

@3/5THS

YES ANYTHING IS MODERATION IS FINE. ABUSING ANYTHING IS NOT FINE!!! USE YOUR BRAIN. TAKE YET ANOTHER DEEP BREATHE. MEDITATE JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE BECAUSE YOU ARE EXTREMELY WRAPPED TOO TIGHT.

posted by: Threefifths on June 30, 2010 10:53am

posted by: CeCe Pinewood on June 29, 2010 11:47pm
....I stopped into Cast Iron Soul for lunch today and was blown away by the kind people working and amazing aromas in the air. The food was excellent. And I encourage every one whose reading this article to go. By the way threefifths their was only one red meat dish on the menu so chill out. Angry!

I think you need to read the menu.

http://www.castironsoul.com/

posted by: streever on June 29, 2010 10:37pm
Oh 3/5ths. I don’t know what to say to you. The target demographic of the cheese truck are amongst the healthiest, longest-lived people on earth. Yoruba doesn’t tell you what’s what, man.

For real.cheese truck are amongst the healthiest.

Cheese linked to risk in testicular cancer

Prostate cancer is about 25 times more common than testicular cancer, and we know much more about its risk factors. But testicular cancer is on the rise, and scientists are starting to ask if diet may have a role in the disease, which tends to strike white males between the ages of 20 and 35. One study evaluated the impact of diet on testicular cancer. Only dairy products were linked to an increased risk; cheese was a particular culprit.

More study is needed, but for now, it appears that like older men at risk for prostate cancer, young men at risk for testicular cancer who don’t say “cheese” when planning their menus may have the last smile.
How is that for helpin the balls out.

As you eat your cheese you can read the rest.

http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsweek/Diet_testicular_cancer_and_prostate_cancer.htm

posted by: yohance35 on June 30, 2010 1:40am
@ threefifths

What about the holier-than-thou meat gang overtone which you said nothing about, On one hand you say that I applaud you for your diligent advocacy and numerous links.And on the other hand you say but you don’t need to shove it down our throats. My question to you and all is disprove me wrong.In fact do the research yourself.

but at the end of the day it’s still their personal decision.

Your right,But what happens when that personal decision affects people around you.Case and point I have a friend who in the year 2001 was
diagnosed with diabetes.I as you said shove it down his throat.He said I can eat what I want.The year 2004 he started to get sores on his foot.That same year the doctor put him in a Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber to heal is foot.The doctor told me that if this doesn.t work,He will lose is foot.That god it work.But did he listen.No He went back to his eating a bad diet.Now in 2008 due to his diabetes he got
Chronic kidney disease and is now on Dialysis.So now his wife or family memeber must drive im to the center three days a week.Also he has a six year wait for a kidney. So some time personal decision can affect the people around you. I hope you saw NightLine last night.New Study: Obesity Rates on the Rise Check out there personal decision

http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/

posted by: STYLENE on June 30, 2010 6:20am
@3/5THS

YES ANYTHING IS MODERATION IS FINE. ABUSING ANYTHING IS NOT FINE!!! USE YOUR BRAIN. TAKE YET ANOTHER DEEP BREATHE. MEDITATE JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE BECAUSE YOU ARE EXTREMELY WRAPPED TOO TIGHT.

I do use my brain and it tells me to think before I put anything in my body.Also I use wheatgrass for my brain.May be you should try some.

http://www.wellness-junction.com/health-wellness/10-reasons-you-should-drink-wheatgrass-juice/

posted by: Kells on June 30, 2010 11:46am

Best of luck to these two!! I will be stopping by to support them. We need more places like this!!!

posted by: Blessed Woman Of God on July 4, 2010 10:42am

I have been to Cast Iron Soul several times and I have enjoyed the beautiful smiles, the excellent service, and the beautiful dishes they have prepared for me and deserts. Come and enjoy. May GOD continue to bless u guys both because both of u guys deserve this. Dont pay NEGATIVE COMMENTS. Because GOD prepared this for you guys.

posted by: Wayne MG on July 5, 2010 8:55am

I will be stopping by to enjoy a delicious and healthy meal every time I visit New Haven. Good luck to these two young entrepeneurs.

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