Tamarra Thomas

Course: Race, Class, and Justice from the Field to the Table.

A graduate of both NYU’s (MA) and the New Schools (BS) Food Studies programs, Tamarra Thomas has had an extensive career in food. Thomas believes in using her knowledge and experience, to help her students and community build a stronger connection to food. Thomas is an adjunct professor at several universities including NYU, the New School, and NYC College of Technology.

Recently Tamarra Thomas worked with the Food and Social Justice Action Research Lab on a national study looking at urban agriculture and the USDA. Thomas also researched the phenomenon of Latchkey Kids in the 80s and 90s. Thomas’s other research interest include demographic identity and foodways, urban inequalities and food, and food heritage and social influence.

Using her broad knowledge Thomas also designed and implemented a Mobile Teaching Kitchen program with New York non-profit Harlem Grown, integrating each recipe with historic and cultural references.

As pastry chef, Thomas oversaw all creative direction and daily operations of the several pastry programs including banquet kitchens, hotels, and award-winning restaurants. Thomas also owned and operated her own candy store Mama Cocoa’s Delights. During this time Thomas became an official chocolate vendor of the U.S. Senate.

Tamarra’s commitment to her craft has earned her local, state, and national awards. In 2013 she was named winner of the Food Network’s series Sweet Genius. She has also appeared in USA Today, The Washington Post, NBC, ABC, and most recently CBS. In 2013 she was honored for her outstanding performance in the hospitality community by the Maryland General Assembly.