Deborah Freeman is the creator of Setting the Table, a multi-award winning podcast exploring Black foodways and culinary history that in 2023 was honored by the International Association of Culinary Professionals as “Podcast of the Year.” She’s also a colleague in the food writing world, with contributions including to Eater, Condé Nast Traveler, a…

Roosevelt Brownlee lives on the curve of a quiet street in Savannah, GA, the tall stalks of okra in his vegetable garden just visible from the side drive. It’s one of many such streets in the port city, and only a few minutes from the old City Market area where he spent his earliest years. But in between those two Savannah addresses, Roosevelt has …

One of my greatest quiet joys is cooking from a well-written cookbook on a weekend night, music on the bluetooth and new scents and tastes filling the kitchen. My favorite cookbook that I’ve cooked from this year is Latinisimo: Home Recipes from the Twenty-One Country of Latin America by Sandra Gutierrez. Sweeping in its scope, it is an encyclopedi…

Columbia, SC’s Main Street architecture still has much of the charm of a mid-century movie set. There are jewelry stores, restaurants, hotels, and gift shops in buildings that range from the turn of the 20th Century to modern day. Tucked in among the hustle and bustle is Lula Drake Wine Parlor, which eight plus years ago was just another dusty buil…

Charlotte, NC is one of the fastest growing metropolitan cities in the United States. While the city has always looked forward, it was actually founded before the American Revolution and the site of the first US Mint. But in the past two decades, the intense growth and the addition of a light rail system have brought immense changes citywide. In th…

Over more than half a century as an editor at Knopf, Judith Jones became a legend, nurturing future literary icons such as Sylvia Plath, Anne Tyler, and John Updike. But although I was an English major, I first learned of Judith Jones years later, when I realized that Edna Lewis, M.F.K. Fisher, Claudia Roden, Madhur Jaffrey, James Beard, and, most …

Rice was South Carolina’s first great agricultural staple. Before the American Revolution, it had already made South Carolina the richest of the 13 original colonies, and Charleston one of the richest cities in the world. But it did so on the backs of enslaved skilled laborers, most of whom had been kidnapped from the rice growing regions of West A…

Shaun Brian Sells started life in a two-person tent surrounded by plantation ruins in the flats of Coral Bay, St. John, US Virgin Islands. It was in that environment where his love for cooking began– by roaming and foraging through the valley, fishing off his dad’s sailboat and cooking for up to eight siblings at a time. Those challenges became the…

Adrian Lipscombe is a native Texan, a chef, an urban planner, and a civic activist, though she prefers the term catalyst. In 2016, she moved to La Crosse, Wisconsin and opened Uptowne Café, a gathering place and a space for her to explore the synergy behind her Southern upbringing, Midwest ingredients and African American culinary history. In 2020,…

Although Charleston, SC, has changed a lot, it is still one of the cities in the US with a decidedly European feel. Many parts of it are very walkable, there are cobblestone alleyways and al fresco dining, and lingering over a meal is absolutely encouraged. One of the best places to linger this time of year -- or anytime really -- is Malagón Mercad…

On a cool, misty morning when the trees were bright green with their first flush of leaves, I rounded a corner on Route 215 in the NC Mountains and arrived at one of Sunburst Trout’s rainbow trout farms. Pristine water flowed continuously into multiple holding ponds, which held different sizes of trout with plenty of room to move around and swim. H…

Chef Dave “Smoke” McCluskey, an official member of the Mohawk nation, has spent more than 30 years in the culinary industry, in everything from fine dining kitchens to catering gigs to even organizing and hosting boucheries. Those are traditional gatherings centered around communal hog butchering that also offer a space to celebrate local foodways,…

Passion for your work can give you energy to do more than you ever dreamed you’d have time for. That’s the case for William Dissen, chef of The Market Place in Asheville, NC, which this year, its 45th in operation, was named a semifinalist for Outstanding Restaurant by the James Beard Foundation. William began honing his skills through study at the…

Jael Skeffington is the co-founder and CEO of French Broad Chocolates in Asheville, NC. What started in 2006 as a chocolate passion and a cafe in Costa Rica with her partner Dan, has grown to 85 employees, a Chocolate Lounge & Boutique in downtown Asheville, and an experiential Chocolate Factory & Cafe. French Broad sources the finest cacao from fa…

Do you ever consider going to Hilton Head Island, SC for a fresh-out-of-the-oven French baguette or a raspberry tart that’s perhaps gilded with gold flakes and filled with lemon curd? Maybe not, but you might want to reconsider because Hilton Head Social Bakery, with two locations on the island, has been baking that and much more since Chef Philipp…

Despite the bio I’m about to share, I think Ray Isle is one of the least pretentious people in the wine world today. He grew up in Houston, and he learned to see wine as an adventure, an adventure that’s taken him all around the world. Ray is the longtime executive wine editor for Food & Wine as well as the wine and spirits editor for Travel + Leis…

Why Spinach? Oh, Let Me Count the Ways! What do you think when you hear the words “spinach salad”? Wait, wait. Don’t tune out. This spinach salad is bursting with flavor and is the perfect recipe to fill you with a sense of renewal and freshness. Forget about bland and dreary salads that make meal time fee like a chore rather than a treat. My spina…

Augusta Road in West Columbia, SC, isn’t a storybook setting. Strip malls are lined up down the road, flanking a Wal-Mart and a sprawling old school U Haul campus. But just keep going and turn off the road at the Aldi and there’s a summer camp style building tucked in some trees and a modest BBQ sign. That’s when you know you’ve reached the city li…

Making Magic with a Crustless Quiche How often do you make quiche? If the answer is not often, let me assure you have an egg-citing future with quiche once you meet my crustless quiche recipe. Yes, that’s right. Imagine all the creamy, eggy goodness of traditional quiche but without the crust. Don’t get me wrong. I love crust – on pizza, bread, and…

According to Saveur magazine, Border Food is defined as Mexican food with a distinct identity —influenced by the cooking of Chihuahua and Texas, but with a number of little twists. Because Texas is so large and diverse, it’s a more nuanced label than the overarching Tex-Mex, and one surprising spot that it is celebrating with abandon is in Greenvil…

Chef Nikko Cagalanan was born and raised in the Philippines. After immigrating to the states in 2011 and working as a nurse, he found himself inspired to pursue cooking with the desire to share his passion for Filipino food. He moved to Charleston, SC in 2018 and began Mansueta’s, a series of pop-ups in the city and the region that helped him hone …

In Praise of Leftovers: The Unsung Heroes of Meal Time Let’s be honest, leftovers have been getting a bad rap for far too long. If you’ve ever refused to carry home the remains of your meal or turned up your nose up at the sight of those lonely leftovers the next day, it’s time to rethink your relationship with leftovers. Often relegated to the bac…

Ah, the humble egg! That versatile orb of deliciousness that has the power to transform your humble breakfast into a feast fit for royalty. But here’s the catch – frying an egg is both an art and a science. Get it right, and you’re a culinary genius. Get it wrong, and well, it’s scrambled eggs for breakfast again. Fear not! Today, we’re diving into…

Are you searching for a new chicken recipe that is full of flavor and easy enough on a weeknight? I’ve got you covered! Try my Herbs de Provence Chicken with White Wine and Lemon. Herbs de Provence Chicken: A Culinary Journey to the French Mediterranean What’s not to like about a dish that is simple to make yet tastes sophisticated. That is the sto…

Ah, risotto! It’s that creamy, comforting dish that’s the culinary equivalent of a warm hug from an Italian grandmother. The Delightful World of Risotto And it’s a dish with a long history. The transformation of rice from simple grain to exquisite risotto is attributed to a family in Milan during the Renaissance. A young apprentice using saffron as…

You may know them as crawfish, crayfish, or crawdads. My question to you is how can you easily enjoy these mysterious and tasty, fresh-water crustaceans? My answer, crawfish dip. If you don’t know this, small yet tasty acquatic species, yet, it’s time to take your tastebuds on a culinary adventure. What’s a Crawfish? Louisiana is the epicenter of c…

What beloved food grows on a tree that a scientist affectionately named theobroma or “food of the Gods” in 1753? It’s chocolate! And it’s time to unleash your inner chocoholic and your childlike enjoyment for whimsy and fun at the table with a chocolate fondue. Brief History of Fondue First let’s talk fondue. The word “fondue” is derived from a Fre…

A Refreshing Twist on Kale Salad: Creamy Yogurt and Lemon Dressing Kale, the quintessential superfood, has been a staple in health-conscious kitchens for years. But let’s face it, kale can be a bit… well, kale-ish. Kale often gets a bad rap for its bitter taste and kale leaves can be a bit tough because they are full of fiber. However, this green g…

Hi y’all, It’s Stephanie, I’m excited to share with you another podcast you should check out through this episode of The One Recipe from APM Studios. On The Southern Fork I've talked to a lot of people about their food and their recipes. Pretty much everyone who cooks aspires to have a clutch of recipes they can make their own. The ones that we sen…

Spice Up Your Meals with a Versatile Cajun Sauce Are you ready to add a zesty twist to supper time? Look no further than this versatile, delicious Cajun sauce. Perfect for drizzling over crepes, jazzing up grilled chicken, or elevating any of your favorite dishes, this sauce is a game-changer for meals at anytime of the day, breakfast, brunch, lunc…

Make these dreamy crepes with mascarpone, honey, and orange, a tasty reality with this simple and delicious recipe. The post Crepes with Mascarpone, Honey, and Orange appeared first on Life At The Table.By Chef Sandra Lewis, Life At The Table

By mastering a few simple techniques you can easily add a Béarnaise sauce to your weeknight meals to lather over vegetables or a steak. The post Béarnaise Sauce appeared first on Life At The Table.By Chef Sandra Lewis, Life At The Table

Steak au Poivre is a delicious pepper-coated steak that is elegant and comes together in a snap. Serve it with a brandy cream sauce. The post Steak Au Poivre With Brandy Cream Sauce appeared first on Life At The Table.By Chef Sandra Lewis, Life At The Table

Unleash the comfort of a delicious bowl of soup anytime you have leftover turkey (or chicken) with this easy and delicious turkey soup. The post Turkey Soup with Kale, Potatoes, and Wild Rice appeared first on Life At The Table.By Chef Sandra Lewis, Life At The Table

Hi! Stephanie here. It’s been a while since you’ve heard from me, but as we get close to Thanksgiving, I want you to know that I’m thinking of y’all, and I’m thankful for every one of you who listen to The Southern Fork. I’m working hard over here in the background making podcast plans and interview itineraries for 2024, but in the meantime, I want…

Transform cornbread into a fresh-tasting herby dressing that is the perfect accompaniment to roasted, smoked, or BBQ'd meats. The post Cornbread Dressing appeared first on Life At The Table.By Chef Sandra Lewis, Life At The Table

Cuban in origin, easy on a weeknight especially when you repurpose leftover chuck roast for the beef. Give this one a try! The post Vaca Frita appeared first on Life At The Table.By Chef Sandra Lewis, Life At The Table

Baked cod with a white wine and lemon sauce is simple, delicious, and a bright ray of sunshine at dinner time. The post Baked Cod with a White Wine Lemon Sauce and Fresh Herbs appeared first on Life At The Table.By Chef Sandra Lewis, Life At The Table

Host Stephanie Burt recaps Season 8 of the show, sharing the most listened to podcasts, her favorite bites of the season, and other details to keep the conversation going. Let’s Dig In.By Stephanie Burt

Charleston Wine + Food is a multi-day wine and food festival that takes place the first full weekend each March, and I have covered it as a media person, and/or participated as talent for all of its going-on 18 years excepting one. The following interview took place live in the midst of the Culinary Village at this year’s festival, and I’m sharing …

The soup comes together lickety-split on a weeknight. It’s filled with flavor, earthy and warm. Add it to your weeknight repertoire. The post Mushroom Cream Soup appeared first on Life At The Table.By Chef Sandra Lewis, Life At The Table

Although The Southern Fork Summer Tour is over, we still have a few weeks together, and the weather has started to turn in much of the South. I don’t know about you, but soon after I feel that first cool breeze, I can’t wait to have a plate of barbecue. Maybe it’s because in my North Carolina childhood, barbecue “stands” as it were, popped up at ch…

Make your tastebuds dance with this delectable one-skillet meal that is perfect anytime of day, breakfast, lunch or dinner! The post Shakshuka appeared first on Life At The Table.By Chef Sandra Lewis, Life At The Table

Alabama native Scott Peacock is a James Beard Award-winning chef and one of the foremost authorities on American Southern cuisine. He might be best known for his work at Watershed restaurant in Decatur, Georgia, and his partnership with culinary icon Edna Lewis, but his recipes and writing have appeared in numerous publications as well, including T…

You'll love the crispy, tasty goodness of these Tex-Mex-style nachos with a Greek twist! It comes together in a snap. Try it today! The post Greek Nachos appeared first on Life At The Table.By Chef Sandra Lewis, Life At The Table

Despite the name, I was still so unprepared for how very clear much of the water is in the Crystal River region of Florida. From snaking like a teal ribbon around trees and under bridges, to reflecting clouds like a salty mirror, on the day I went out on it, our boat sped closer on its glassy surface to a horizon already dotted with other anchored …

In 1905, Saloon Columbia in Tampa, FL officially became Columbia Restaurant, a place helmed by Casimiro Hernandez Sr. where cigar workers in Ybor City could rest and enjoy Spanish and Cuban food, or snag a sandwich to eat on the job. Through the years, the restaurant grew to envelop the entire city block, and today, the family-owned landmark is Flo…

Rocca, located in the Tampa Heights neighborhood of Tampa, FL, is Chef Bryce Bonsack’s love letter to the family who he worked for and lived with during his tutelage and pilgrimage in Italy. Showcasing fresh handmade pasta, mozzarella pulled tableside, and dry aged meats, Bryce creates an ever changing menu influenced by both classical recipes and …

The day dawns humid and the waters of Sarasota Bay seem like a glassy mirror reflecting a pale blue sky. There are the sounds of birds as well as the gentle lapping of water up against a boat, sure, but more often than not, those sounds are drowned out by the sounds of fishermen calling out to each other to set the lines as they dock, or the beepin…

I’ve been covering food for close to two decades, and throughout my career, most of the high volume places I visit, and especially those in tourist areas, don’t present menus that follow local seasons, feature local produce, or work with local farms. However, on Anna Maria Island, FL and neighboring Longboat Key, the restaurants of Chiles Hospitali…