Okra And Tomato Stew

"hoppin’ john with okra and tomato stew: Last Thursday, @mississippivegan invited us into his Brooklyn home for an authentic Southern-style home cooked dinner. We have been drooling over his food photos for the past year and couldn’t believe that we were actually getting to try them in person! It felt like a dream when he offered us his signature shiitake bacon that we have been admiring for so long now. The main course was a mouthwatering gumbo—a perfectly spicy dish that Timothy grew up enjoying in Mississippi. It was better than anything we could have imagined: warm, hearty, and delicious. Luckily for us and the rest of the world, our gifted friend just launched his website where he shares his southern secrets, taking dishes that traditionally use meat and turning them into incredibly tasty vegan options. His gumbo won our hearts and we couldn’t wait to get back home and start making everything from his website. We knew that no matter what we picked first we couldn’t go wrong, but we started with a twist on a southern favorite—hoppin’ john with okra and tomato stew—and just like his exceptional gumbo, this hot and spicy stew is an instant classic. "