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Plenty of cooking shows involve all kinds of quirky competitions. Every so often, something original premieres, catching viewers’ attention in a new way. Recently, The Great Soul Food Cook-Off has brought flavor and culture to the world of cooking, celebrating soul food as an integral part of cuisine in the U.S.

‘The Great Soul Food Cook-Off’ brings together the best chefs

Oprah Winfrey’s OWN Network and discovery+ released The Great Soul Food Cook-Off in November of 2021. Eight accomplished soul food chefs go head-to-head in cooking contests. Only one wins the $50,000 prize. Each of the six episodes last one hour. Good Egg Entertainment, the same company behind Chopped, produced The Great Soul Food Cook-Off.  

Discovery announced the show in October 2021, sharing that acclaimed chef Kardea Brown would be the host. Brown is a Southern cook from Charleston, South Carolina. Her ancestry comes from a Gullah-Geechee origin. Brown learned about Gullah cooking in her grandmother’s kitchen. Now, she has her own show on the Food Network, Delicious Miss Brown.  

Two full-time judges, Melba Wilson and Eric Adjepong, join Brown each week. Guest judges will also appear throughout the show. Here are the eight soul food chefs competing to win:

  • Chris Scott: Chef/owner, Butterfunk Biscuit Co. – Harlem, NY
  • Dorian Hunter: Chef/caterer, Elevated Soul – Atlanta, GA
  • Fred Fluellen: Private chef/caterer, Fluniversity – Atlanta, GA
  • Jamarius Banks: Private chef – Atlanta, GA
  • Jermaine Smith: Chef/owner, Henry’s Soul Cafe – Washington D.C.
  • Razia Sabour: Private Chef/caterer, Fuller Foods – Atlanta, GA
  • Shacafrica Simmons: Private chef/caterer, Southern Fusion – Tallahassee, FL
  • Tirzah Love: Private chef/caterer – Oakland, CA

Soul food has a rich history in America

The cast of The Great Soul Food Cook-Off films the first episode
OWN’s The Great Soul Food Cook-Off cast | OWN via Youtube

As People reports, OWN President Tina Perry stated, “Soul food originated in the earliest African American communities and describes a style of cuisine that represents the creativity and skill of Black cooks from many cultures within the African diaspora.”  

Perry explained that the OWN audience “cherishes” family recipes and the legacy of cooking. The Great Soul Food Cook-Off is a “celebration of long-standing traditions we hope to introduce and spotlight for new and existing viewers as we shine a light on a few of today’s most talented Black chefs and culinary curators.” 

Black culture is being recognized across music, film, sports, and more. But one area that’s been lacking involves the kitchen. The Great Soul Food Cook-Off seeks to bring more awareness by highlighting the contributions of Black chefs.  

The Great Soul Food Cook-Off also highlights the spiritual aspect of soul food. Wilson, one of the regular judges, prays over the food before the judges start tasting. She says, “Heavenly Father, bless the hands of the chefs that have prepared the meals. May you give them grace, give them faith, but most importantly, may you give them flavor.”

Bringing in the spiritual side of things doesn’t mean it won’t get heated on set. Wilson also said, “It would not be a real soul food cook-off if there wasn’t some trash talking. Come on now.”  

Chefs must bring the flavor to ‘The Great Soul Food Cook-Off’

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According to Southern Living, The Great Soul Food Cook-Off starts each week with the Soul Starter Challenge. The challenge involves the chefs creating a dish “packed with flavor and personal history” in 30 minutes or less.

The winner of the Soul Starter Challenge has an advantage in the bigger cooking elimination challenge. The final challenge determines who goes home each week.  

You can watch The Great Soul Food Cook-Off on the OWN network, discovery+, and Hulu.

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