Kardea Brown's Cooking Rule You Should Never Break
Charleston-born chef Kardea Brown loves to celebrate the combination of Southern and Gullah flavors within her dishes. The chef honors her family and their recipes through her cooking, especially with her pop-up New Gullah Supper Club that pays homage to her Gullah/Geechee heritage (via Kardea Brown). Per the New Georgia Encyclopedia, Gullah culture is associated with the coastal islands of South Carolina, while Geechee culture is linked to Georgia's islands. Both cultures are linked to West African people who maintained many of their traditions there since the 18th century.
Brown graced Charlotte, North Carolina with a four-course meal through the New Gullah Supper Club in 2018. There, she announced, "No one is a stranger at the New Gullah Super table," at the close of the meal (via Qcitymetro).
That sort of mindset may be key to Brown's success. While eating a tasty meal may put you in a good mood, cooking one may not be as successful if you're in a bad state of mind. In chef Brown's opinion, putting together a meal with anything other than a cheerful approach can have a noticeable impact on your food. So, if you're not in a good mood, stay out of the kitchen, as Brown told Food Network.
Brown serves her dishes with a smile and so should you
Viewers learn endless cooking tricks and tips when watching Brown's Food Network show Delicious Miss Brown, but her most valuable cooking advice is to get yourself into a good frame of mind first (via Food Network). For those who are fans of chef Brown, the fact that she swears by this wise advice shouldn't come as a huge surprise. Brown and her team clearly have a blast on the show, according to a little behind-the-scenes clip on Instagram.
Brown's optimistic attitude and warm presence are part of what makes her show such a hit. It could even be what makes her food so tasty. Moreover, that tidbit of advice may not just be a personal mantra. According to Times of India, author and researcher Masaru Emoto ultimately found that positivity will "produce harmonious crystal formations in the water," whereas negativity will "produce fragmented, disharmonious crystal formations." However, it's worth noting that Emoto's findings were frequently criticized by other scientists, according to Skeptical Inquirer. So, consider taking this all with a grain of salt.
Even if you doubt those findings, it's hard to deny that it's way better to have fun in the kitchen than to go about your cooking business with a bad attitude. So, if you can, take chef Brown's advice and give yourself a positivity boost next time you need it in the culinary sphere.