The Philadelphia Inquirer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • D1

3 red dishes for your Juneteenth cookout A tomato tart, stuffed red peppers with kidney beans and rice, and a strawberry tiramisu help commemorate the day enslaved people learned they were free. By Jenn Ladd STAFF WRITER ake yourself back to summer2019. Before the pandemic up-ended our day-to-day, after Notre-Dame cathedral caught ablaze, and around when the South Philadelphia oil refinery exploded, something else captured our attention. It was less memora- ble, but far more refreshing. It was the summer of (hard) seltzer.

In 2019, the number of hard selt- zer brands more than doubled, from 10 to 26. In 2020, it grew to 65. Today, store shelves are awash in so many iterations, one could easily forget fizzy predecessors like Bud Light Lime and Hard Lemon- ade. Corporate brands White Claw, Truly dominate the market, but Philadelphia has a homegrown mak- er with big ambitions of its own: Two Robbers. Two offices are based out of South BOK building.

Its seltzers are crafted elsewhere, including at Yards Brew- ing Co. and two out-of-state brewer- ies that enable it to reach distant markets more easily. The start-up, launched by twin brothers Vikram and Vivek Nayar in 2019, recently raised $6 million in financing from investors. The capital will help Two Robbers expand its team and distri- bution network, which already num- bers 3,000 retailers, including Whole Foods and Wegmans. See TWO ROBBERS on D2 Twin brothers Vivek (left) and Vikram Nayar, 29, started Two Robbers hard seltzer two years ago.

ALEJANDRO A. ALVAREZ Staff Photographer By Tiffani Rozier FOR THE INQUIRER efore the summer of 2020, it seemed Juneteenth was observed only by a small minority of African Americans. But in the midst of the Black Lives Matter movement, commemoration of Juneteenth has become more common, as a growing number of people observe the end of slavery in the United States, and emphasize the history and contributions of Black Americans. Juneteenth, which is sometimes called Jubilee Day, Freedom Day, and Liberation Day, originated in Galveston, Texas. It is observed on June 19 and marked with celebrations, picnics, and family gatherings.

Red foods are among the dishes that are critical to these celebrations. Red velvet cake, watermelon, strawberry pie, crimson hot links, and hibiscus tea have come to symbolize the blood and resilience of enslaved people. According to culinary historian Michael W. Twitty, this tradition can be traced to people from such countries as Benin, Uganda, and Congo who served red foods during special occasions. These three recipes incorporate ingredients, including red peppers, kidney beans, tomatoes, and strawberries, to honor that tradition.

See JUNETEENTH on D4 Two Robbers sees opportunity in fast-changing hard seltzer market PHILLY CHEESESTEAKS Longtime favorites and our picks of not-to-miss places to savor the iconic sandwich. D3 SUNDAY IN LIVE LIFE LOVE A look at beer culture and the breweries trying to get it right. RECIPES INSIDE D4 Two savory preparations and one dessert for a Juneteenth event. THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 2021 INQUIRER.COM.