The Family Recipe Rule Kardea Brown Never Breaks
Kardea Brown knows that while some rules are meant to be broken in the culinary world, there are others that you probably don't even want to try to bend, specifically when we are talking about anything related to family. Brown came on to the cooking scene in 2019 when Food Network launched her show Delicious Miss Brown. Since then, the South Carolina native and celebrity chef of Gullah/Geechee descent has been showing the world a different view of Southern cuisine through her traditional family recipes, often with a contemporary riff. But what we love most about Brown's show is how she has managed to weave so much storytelling into her cooking as she shares recipes passed on to her from her grandmother and mother (via Food Network). If you haven't watched Delicious Miss Brown, you should definitely check it out.
Brown has made quite a mark on the culinary scene, and if her foray into the world of television cooking isn't enough of an accomplishment, the celebrity chef recently announced she has a cookbook in the works that is set to be released in fall 2022. But how has Brown made those family dishes au current while staying true to her culture and heritage? There's one rule Brown never breaks to accomplish this.
Brown doesn't make changes to the tried and true
When asked by Foodsided.com how she is able to maintain the traditional elements of her family recipes while adding a little modern innovation, Brown revealed that there are some family recipes she would never try to change. Brown quipped, "Like the old saying goes, 'If it ain't broke don't fix it.' There are some family recipes I just don't touch. But some recipes I like to experiment with and create new/fresh spins on. For instance my grandmother's bread recipe. I've made several variations of that."
That type of restraint and respect for her family's recipes is inspiring. But Brown's intent with her cooking is well-thought-out. Brown shared in an interview with Garden and Gun that, "the Gullah people laid the foundation for Southern cooking. Before farm-to-table was a fad, it was what Gullah people did, so I wanted to show the world that African American people don't just fry chicken and eat collard greens swimming in meat. It's very intentional on my part, to show a different part of the South." Clearly, Brown's family recipes are the foundation for showcasing this important aspect of her culinary culture and childhood memories. Her rule to preserve and protect them makes a lot of sense and makes us respect her even more.