Black chefs have been making their mark on American television for decades. In 1949, legendary chef Lena Richard of New Orleans, was the first African American chef to host her eponymous television cooking show in the United States. Since then, multiple Black chefs have graced the small screen — chefs like G. Garvin, Sunny Anderson, Carla Hall, Mashama Bailey, Mariya Russell, Marcus Samuelsson, Kardea Brown and Kwame Onwuachi –to name a few, currently host or have hosted shows featuring recipes that embrace, educate and elevate soul food.
Add to the list, celebrated chef Deborah VanTrece of Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours and Oreatha’s at the Point in Atlanta. Chef Deb has launched, “Global Soul Kitchen with Deborah VanTrece,” a new cooking show on the FYI Network. Airing Mondays at 10 p.m. EST/9 p.m. CST, the best-selling author and chef introduces viewers to “global soul food,” a style of cooking that combines traditional Southern American soul food with different international influences to create something familiar and new.
Colloquially referred to as,”Chef Deb,” VanTrece’s dishes run the worldwide gamut from smothered chicken meatballs over herb truffled spaetzle to paella macaroni to a Dutch Baby style BLT to smothered chicken gizzard poutine. Chef Deb‘s recipe’s are not only pleasing to the palette but also beautifully presented. She takes viewers through the historical background of the recipes as she gently guides them through the cooking process.
Watch Chef Deb on “The Big Story” talk about her journey from flight attendant to a James Beard award-winning chef and how embracing her identity fueled her success and the types of meals she creates.
In 2022, Chef Deb opened her second restaurant Orethas at the Point in Cascade Heights (Atlanta) and curates the menu at the American Express Lounge in Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. VanTrece also curates Global Soul Kitchen airs on the FYI Network on Mondays at 10 p.m. EST. Watch or set your DVRs for great storytelling, recipes and delicious meals.
This article was written by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor-in-chief of The Burton Wire. Follow Nsenga on social media @Ntellectual.
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