19 Comments
Nov 17, 2021Liked by illyanna Maisonet

So many memories brought back of the Harlem number holes and trips w my Papa to buy bean pies. I have one in my fridge right now. Not the same as back in the day. Chef Omar Tate make one that takes me back tho! Great piece! The Bx and Harlem still have great fried whiting sandwiches when you decide to visit NYC again.

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Nov 17, 2021Liked by illyanna Maisonet

Loved this piece!!

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Nov 16, 2021Liked by illyanna Maisonet

Bean pie and whiting are two things that remind me of my childhood. We used to get it on days when my mom would get paid well. Bean pies from shabazz, and whiting from pico fish, haha!

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Nov 16, 2021Liked by illyanna Maisonet

I have been thinking about bean pies a lot lately! My Grandma Callie, may she rest in peace, loved them and was always asking my uncles to bring them from ATL to Florida at Thanksgiving. I'm not crying.

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Grew up in Harlem & the South Bronx. Have not heard about bean pie or whiting is years! Thanks for taking me back! 💛

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founding
Nov 16, 2021Liked by illyanna Maisonet

Dang I miss bean pie and a box of fried whiting. Haven't had them since college. But yeah, you can still get fried whiting all over Baltimore.

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Nov 16, 2021Liked by illyanna Maisonet

I grew up eating whiting but hadn't thought about it for years. In my part of the Midwest, it appeared as a frozen rectangle in the grocery frozen food section, a reasonable alternative to the bottom-feeding local river fish and carp, or the pan fish (bluegill, sunfish and croppie) caught in summer. I have no idea of the source and don't remember it as much beyond edible.

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Nov 16, 2021Liked by illyanna Maisonet

oh my word, this--both your description and your photos--made my mouth water! i've never had fried whiting (but have eaten more than my fair share of fried catfish and other fish served on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico over the years). wish i could get my hands on some right now, tho!

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Lots of fried whiting in Richmond CA! Check out JJ's, Boulevard Fish, Snapper's Seafood. Baby Bean Pie Company opened last year in Oakland and ships in California, not nationally yet. https://www.babybeanpie.com/ Tryna look out for you, Illyanna...

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I stumbled upon this looking up what whiting is and this is very interesting and I would read a whole book written like this. Very enjoyable.

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The Nations newspaper is The Final Call

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i've only had bean pie once so idk much about it. what makes a good one?

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I've heard of bean pies and knew there was a connection to Nation of Islam, but wasn't familiar with it beyond that. This was really interesting!

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Another great story for the book!

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