I write about food and what it teaches us.

As a Black Jewish sushi chef from the South, my stories live at the intersection of memory, identity, and transformation. From my days running a kosher deli to crafting plant-based dishes inspired by Japanese flavors, I return again and again to the idea that food is much more than what we put on the plate. It’s who we bring to the table and the stories that come with us.

Writings

  • Marisa Baggett with classmates during sushi school training in Japanese cuisine

    The Moment I Knew I Wanted to Be a Sushi Chef

    A bottle of Jack Daniels, a room full of Japanese businessmen, and a lesson I didn’t know I needed.


    A cinematic turning point in my culinary journey and the night I stopped doubting whether I belonged behind the sushi counter.

  • Marisa Baggett holding a bottle of Manischewitz wine in preparation for Passover

    Why Is This Sushi Different Than All Other Sushi

    A kosher deli, a sushi competition show, and the questions that followed me to the plate.


    What it means to bring your whole self to the table, especially when the plate includes shrimp, and your past includes matzah balls.

  • Silken tofu resting on a kitchen towel next to shelf-stable tofu boxes

    Tofu Wasn't What I Expected

    The day I almost skipped class and instead fell for a jiggly, custardy block of soy.

    From skepticism to reverence, I revisit my first taste of tofu, offer an ingredient spotlight, and share my recipe for Agedashi Dofu.