Tanya Holland, a celebrated chef and U.S. Culinary Diplomat, shares her passion for food and hospitality, rooted in her family's tradition of hosting gourmet supper clubs. She discusses the significance of her Oakland restaurant, Brown Sugar Kitchen, and the cultural heritage behind her famous cornmeal waffles. Tanya reflects on how personal experiences and community shape her culinary journey while addressing the evolution of soul food and the emotional ties that food fosters among people.
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Origin of Famous Cornmeal Waffles
Tanya Holland's famous cornmeal waffles were a unique invention born from her desire for a yeast-risen waffle with the texture of cornmeal.
Demand grew so high that she had to manage multiple industrial waffle makers to serve hundreds daily.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Gourmet Club Creates Culinary Community
Tanya's parents founded the Gourmet Club with six couples mixing black and white families to create culinary and cultural exchanges.
It built community and broadened cuisine exposure for everyone, including Tanya as a teen involved in the dinners.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Summers in Southern Kitchens
Tanya spent summers visiting grandmothers in Virginia and Louisiana, experiencing traditional Southern kitchens and foods.
She recalls a penny candy store and homemade pralines, with cooking from scratch and strong community presence.
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California Soul is a cookbook that uses food as a portal to understand people and culture and how food connects to migration stories. It contains recipes with the seasons and stories that tell about California's migration history. The book explores how African foods have made their way into the American palate, mentioning historical figures like Biddy Mason and Farmer McDonald. It offers a personal and cultural exploration through food, highlighting how recipes reflect individual and collective journeys. The cookbook also contains information about California cuisine with many different interpretations. It celebrates the diversity of culinary traditions and how they are expressed in personal ways.
The vegetarian epicure
The vegetarian epicure
Anna Thomas
The Vegetarian Epicure is a classic cookbook with sophisticated vegetarian recipes. It presents a variety of innovative and flavorful vegetarian dishes. The book focuses on using fresh, seasonal ingredients to create elegant meals. It emphasizes the art of vegetarian cooking, introducing readers to new culinary possibilities. It is designed to appeal to both vegetarians and those looking to incorporate more plant-based meals into their diet.
The Moosewood cookbook
The Moosewood cookbook
Mollie Katzen
The Moosewood Cookbook is a vegetarian cookbook with simple and wholesome recipes. It features a wide variety of vegetarian dishes with an emphasis on natural ingredients. The book is known for its approachable style, making vegetarian cooking accessible to home cooks. It promotes healthy eating through delicious and easy-to-follow recipes. The cookbook embodies a communal cooking style.
Brown Sugar Kitchen
Tanya Holland
The Brown Sugar Kitchen cookbook includes a collection of recipes from Tanya Holland's wildly successful soul food restaurant of the same name. It showcases Holland's signature dishes, combining traditional soul food with modern culinary techniques. The cookbook also shares the story behind the restaurant, set in West Oakland, and its impact on the local community. It is a collection of recipes and stories that highlight Holland's approach to creating community through food. The Brown Sugar Kitchen book allows readers to recreate the restaurant experience at home. It emphasizes the importance of soul food as a culinary tradition, along with Holland's innovative twists.
Michele chats with with chef, cookbook author, and TV personality Tanya Holland—best known for her beloved Oakland restaurant, Brown Sugar Kitchen. Tanya reflects on the gourmet supper club her parents hosted, her unexpected role as a U.S. Culinary Diplomat (yes, that’s a real job!), and why hospitality—not just food—is her true passion. Plus, she takes us behind the scenes of her world-famous cornmeal waffles!
Your Mama’s Kitchen 
