Today's Chef

Traditional recipes, clearly explained for home kitchens.

Category: American Southern

American Southern

Buttermilk Fried Chicken: Recipe, Oil Temperature and Doneness Checks

An eight-piece buttermilk fried chicken recipe with a double dredge, small-batch frying, a 165°F doneness check, and holding and leftover…

By Sarah Mitchell · 4 min read

American Southern

Roux Colors Guide: Blonde to Brick, When to Stop

A black iron skillet on a back burner, close to forty minutes of steady stirring, and a kitchen that fills…

By Sarah Mitchell · 7 min read

American Southern

How to Make Real Louisiana Gumbo with a Dark Cajun Roux

Browned flour and bay leaf fill the kitchen while a cast iron pot sits low from mid-morning and the roux…

By Sarah Mitchell · 5 min read

American Southern

BBQ Regions Compared: Memphis, Carolina, Texas, Kansas City, Alabama

Ask a seasoned pitmaster what kind of BBQ they make, and the honest answer is often “the kind that takes…

By Sarah Mitchell · 7 min read

American Southern

Fried Chicken Troubleshooting: Soggy Crust, Burnt Coating and Undercooked Centers

Diagnose fried chicken by when the problem appears. Check oil recovery, measure the thickest meat correctly, and stop trapped steam…

By Sarah Mitchell · 3 min read

American Southern

How to Smoke a Brisket Low and Slow: A First-Timer’s Texas Playbook

A Central Texas brisket runs on salt, pepper, and post oak smoke: roughly twelve hours from lighting the fire to…

By Sarah Mitchell · 6 min read