John T. Edge (born December 22, 1962)^[1] is a writer, commentator, and from 1999 to 2020 was director of theSouthern Foodways Alliance, an institute of theCenter for the Study of Southern Culture at theUniversity of Mississippi. He has written several books on Southern food. For 21 years (1999-2020) he contributed to theOxford American and for three years he contributed to theNew York Times. He writes a column forGarden & Gun and has written for, among others,Afar.^[2] In 2017, he publishedThe Potlikker Papers, a food history of the modern South.^[3]

John T. studied at theUniversity of Georgia.^[4] Edge holds a bachelor's degree and amaster's degree in Southern Studies from the University of Mississippi and anMFA in Creative Non-Fiction fromGoucher College.^[5]

In 1999, Edge became the founding director of theSouthern Foodways Alliance, an institute of theCenter for the Study of Southern Culture at theUniversity of Mississippi.^[5] Every October, the Southern Foodways Alliance sponsors a symposium inOxford, Mississippi, on Americansouthern cuisine. Edge was one of the primary organizers and the master of ceremonies for the many events, which attracted several hundred attendees. The SFA also engages in oral history work, makes films, and stages other events. Edge retired from the SFA in 2021. He now teaches at the University of Mississippi and the University of Georgia and directs the Mississippi Lab at the University of Mississippi.

Edge has authored numerous books detailing how America eats, including, "The Potlikker Papers: A Food History of the Modern South,"Fried Chicken: An American Story,Apple Pie: An American Story,Southern Belly, andThe Truck Food Cookbook. Edge has been a regular contributor for the weekend edition ofNPR'sAll Things Considered and has appeared on various television shows includingCBS Sunday Morning andIron Chef.

He has won 4 James Beard awards. In 2012, he won the MFK Fisher Distinguished Writing Award from theJames Beard Foundation.^[2] His work has also been featured in 10 editions of theBest Food Writing Anthology.^[6]

In 2013, he guest appeared on an episode of theTravel Channel'sBurger Land.^{[citation needed]}

Since 2018 he has hosted the SEC Network /ESPN television showTrueSouth.^[7]

Edge was born in the rural community ofClinton, inJones County, Georgia.^[1] He lives inOxford, Mississippi, with his wife, Blair Hobbs, a painter, writer, and teacher. They have one son, Jess.^[8]

• Edge, John T.The Potlikker Papers: A Food History of the Modern South. Penguin Press, 2017.ISBN 978-1594206559
• Edge, John T.The Truck Food Cookbook: 150 Recipes and Ramblings from America's Best Restaurants on Wheels. Workman, 2012.ISBN 978-0761156161
• Edge, John T. and Roahen, Sara, editors.The Southern Foodways Alliance Community Cookbook. UGA Press, 2010.ISBN 978-0820332758
• Edge, John T.Southern Belly: The Ultimate Food Lovers Companion to the American South. 2012.ISBN 978-1565125476.
• Edge, John T.Donuts: An American Passion. Putnam Adult, 2006.ISBN 0-399-15358-6.
• Edge, John T.Hamburgers and Fries: An American Story. Thorndike Press, 2005.ISBN 0-399-15274-1.
• Edge, John T.Fried Chicken: An American Story. Putnam Adult, 2004.ISBN 0-399-15183-4.
• Edge, John T.Apple Pie: An American Story. Putnam Adult, 2004.ISBN 0-399-15215-6.
• Edge, John T. and Hobbs, Blair.Southern Belly: The Ultimate Food Lover's Guide to the South. Hill Street Press, 2002.ISBN 1-892514-65-6.
• Edge, John T.A Gracious Plenty: Recipes and Recollections from the American South. G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1999.ISBN 0-399-14534-6

• Austin Leslie

• Financial Times Top Twenty Southerners to Watch

• Living people
• American food writers
• People from Oxford, Mississippi
• University of Mississippi faculty
• 1962 births

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