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The Elusive “Your Black Muslim Bakery” Fish Sandwich
by Walasia Noor Shabazz
originally published on OaklandLocal.com
Yusuf Bey IV, of the now-defunct Your Black Muslim Bakery, is on trial for the alleged murder of journalist Chauncey Bailey; but what does his innocence until proven guilty have to do with their beloved Fish Sandwiches and Pies?
At the height of success, the Your Black Muslim Bakery (“YBMB”) bakeries, shops & restaurants were headquartered at 5832 San Pablo Avenue, with 5 branches in Alameda County including #2 on Telegraph Avenue, and satellites at the Oakland Airport & Oakland Coliseum.
Adam “A-Plus” Carter, co-founding member of Hieroglyphics with Del the Funky Homosapien, fondly recalls memories of YBMB. “We traveled so much and they had the best food in the airport in Oakland.”
For the Hieroglyphics crew, it was a favorite Oakland restaurant, Adam explains, whose absence has left a hole in hearts and stomachs. “Nowhere now does food taste that good and healthy. They had Spirulina drink, carrot juice, sorrel (Jamaica), and ginseng. I can remember exactly the taste in memory, but I guess I’ll never taste it again.”
The recipes developed by the Bey family were prepared in accordance with Al-Qur’an, and no refined sugars nor preservatives were ever used. The restaurant was founded by Dr. Bey in 1968 in…