Food Network’s Kardea Brown brings new cookbook to Atlanta History Center

In 1995, Kardea Brown was a class clown at Snapfinger Elementary School in Decatur.

Comedic actor Chris Tucker, who’s from Decatur and co-star of “Friday” with rapper Ice Cube, stopped by her school to surprise her class. He noticed her smile, talent for making other students laugh and pulled her to the side after his speech.

In an interview with UATL, Brown said meeting Tucker sparked an interest in telling jokes but helped her realize her stage was the kitchen.

“He told me I would be a comedienne or doing something on TV to help people when I grew up,” Brown said.

Three decades later, Brown — the self-taught chef and host of the Food Network’s Lowcountry cooking show “Delicious Miss Brown” — released her second cookbook, “Make Do With What You Have: 100 Delicious New Recipes from Favorite Old-School Meals,” on Nov. 11. She’s having its book release at Atlanta History Center on Thursday.

Kardea Brown calls her second cookbook "Make Do With What You Have" a love letter to her mother. (Courtesy of HarperCollins)

“Make Do With What You Have” features simple recipes that can be prepared from basic ingredients lying around the pantry and refrigerator. Her first cookbook, 2022’s “The Way Home: A Celebration of Sea Islands Food and Family with Over 100 Recipes,” celebrates her Gullah/Geechee heritage.

"The Way Home: A Celebration of Sea Islands Food and Family with Over 100 Recipes," Kardea Brown's first cookbook, celebrates Gullah/Geechee food and culture. (Courtesy of Amistad)

Brown, who was born in Charleston, South Carolina, said “Make Do With What You Have” is her tribute to being raised by a single mother.

“It’s a love letter to her. She made a lot (of delicious meals) out of things that were simply in the house and didn’t really spend a ton of money. I don’t care how much fame or notoriety you see me with, I rarely reach for fancy ingredients and still cook the very same way,” Brown said.

“Make Do With What You Have” arrives at a time when the government shutdown has delayed families from receiving SNAP benefits. She said the book offers tips and suggestions on how to make healthy and fiscally responsible decisions.

“There is enough stress in the world right now, and in the Black community, being resourceful is second nature to us. I’m sharing how you can make decent, nutritious, delicious and flavorful dishes without having to settle for prepackaged or highly processed things,” Brown said.

"In the Black community, being resourceful is second nature to us," says Brown. "I’m sharing how you can make decent, nutritious, delicious and flavorful dishes without having to settle for prepackaged or highly processed things." (Courtesy of Sully Sullivan)

In 1990, Brown started splitting time between Atlanta and Charleston. She graduated from Columbia High School in Decatur in 2005 and went on to attend Oglethorpe University. Eventually she started hosting New Gullah Supper Club pop-ups, which caught the attention of the Food Network on social media.

In 2019, “Delicious Miss Brown” premiered. The show features Brown cooking Southern and Gullah/Geechee staples in her kitchen, sharing Black culinary history, dining with her extended family, and husband and brand manager Bryon Smith at the dinner table.

Addressing her viewers as “cousin,” Brown said the small gesture creates an inviting atmosphere.

“It started as a welcome that’s allowed me to really get to know my fan base, and it’s created a sense of belonging and community. They’re a part of my journey now,” she said.

In October, “Delicious Miss Brown” won Brown her first two Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Culinary Host and Instructional Culinary Series. She said the hardware allows her to never forget her ancestry and her humble beginnings.

“It gives us the credit we deserve. There’s history, significance and stories behind our foods, and these prizes help amplify our people and the things that we’ve been through,” she said.

Brown is a co-host on Food Network franchises “Kids Baking Championship” and “Holiday Baking Championship.” She’s developed a line of frozen foods, Delicious Eats, and opened a restaurant, Kardea Brown’s Southern Kitchen, at Charleston International Airport.

'Delicious Miss Brown' host Kardea Brown is also co-host of Food Network competition shows "Holiday Baking Championship" and "Kids Baking Championship." (Courtesy of Food Network)

She aspires to venture into acting and start a family. She said she will continue to expand her culinary empire but is keeping her creative and business options open.