Kardea Brown on Family, Food, and the Roots of Gullah Cooking | YMK
Sep 16, 2025
Food is memory, history, and connection—and for Kardea Brown, it’s also legacy. The Food Network star and bestselling cookbook author joins Michele Norris in Your Mama’s Kitchen to share stories from her family’s kitchens in Charleston and Edisto Island. From Grandma Josephine’s secret mac and cheese ingredient to her mom’s “poo poo platters,” Kardea reflects on how her culinary roots shaped her cooking and her hit show Delicious Miss Brown.
They dig into the heritage of Gullah culture, the story of Carolina Gold rice, and why shrimp and grits is more than just a dish—it’s a family tradition. Plus, Kardea reveals her most decadent dessert (sweet potato pie cheesecake!) and how she brings her family history into the kitchen she now shares with the world. Pull up a chair—you’ll leave this conversation hungry for more