Jernard A. Wells - Southern Inspired: More Than 100 Delicious Dishes from My American Table to Yours

Contents

Praise for

Southern INSPIRED

Ever since we saw Chef Jernard compete in the finals of Food Network Star, we knew he would be on TV for many years to come. Jernards work ethic is second to none.

Jon Steinlauf, chief US advertising sales officer of Discovery, Inc.

Southern Inspired is a delicious collection of recipes and stories personally curated from my friend Jernard Wells. His new cookbook is for everyone who enjoys cooking, and I personally love the way he puts a soulful touch on each dish, from Italian to Mexican, while still paying homage to his southern roots! He is celebrating American Food from his experience, and every recipe is wonderfully packed with flavor and loaded with history.

Melba Wilson, owner of Melbas Restaurant in Harlem, New York City

A popular phrase is KISS: keep it simple, stupid. When you read Chef Jernards cookbook you realize he has put a twist on the phrase and its KISF: keep it simply fantastic! Chef Jernard delivers an easy-to-use cookbook that Im happy to tell everyone Im using in my kitchen!

Rushion McDonald, two-time Emmy Awardwinning executive producer and CEO of 3815 Media

Every single page of Southern Inspired is packed with delicious recipes and stories that inspire us all to celebrate our roots. You can feel Chef Jernards personality and dedication to his craft throughout the book. His larger than life personality, his down home easy approach to making food that has inspired him throughout his culinary journey, and his ability to put his signature Southern spin on everything he touches make him one of todays hottest celebrity chefs. He has the full package and takes great pride in making sure he feeds your mind, body, and soul. He is the truth, and you will want to make every single recipe. This hot new book shows you just why Chef Jernard Wells is one of todays hottest Southern Chefs in the culinary game!

Rochelle Brown and Sonia Armstead, Executive Producers, New Soul Kitchen, Powerhouse Productions

Southern

INSPIRED

Southern

INSPIRED

More Than 100
Delicious Dishes from
My American Table
to Yours

CHEF JERNARD A. WELLS

Written with Dana Slusarenko

Photography by Jensen Taylor

Food Stylist: Francesca Zani

Culinary Assistant: Corey L. Hinton

Culinary Contributor and Super Mom: Gwendolyn Willis

Culinary Consultants: Rochelle Brown & Sonia Armstead

Recipes developed, tested, and shot at PowerHouse Test Kitchen

BenBella Books, Inc.

Dallas, TX

Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book and BenBella Books was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed in initial capital letters.

Southern Inspired copyright 2022 by Jernard Wells

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

BenBella Books, Inc.

10440 N. Central Expressway

Suite 800

Dallas, TX 75231

benbellabooks.com

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BenBella is a federally registered trademark.

First E-Book Edition: 2022

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022013474

ISBN 9781637741504

eISBN 9781637741511

Editing by Claire Schulz

Copyediting by Karen Wise

Proofreading by Marissa Wold Uhrina and Sarah Vostok

Indexing by WordCo

Text design and composition by PerfecType, Nashville, TN

Cover design by Brigid Pearson

Cover photography by Jensen Taylor

Special discounts for bulk sales are available. Please contact .

Contents

F OOD IS SUCH AN ESSENTIAL PART OF OUR CULTUREAND GOOD food represents so much more than a meal. Our ancestors resilience and creativity are exemplified by the selection of ingredients in many of the dishes we enjoy as traditional cuisine and sacred family recipes. Some of our fondest memories and most profound decisions are made as we break bread with family, friends, and colleagues. Its how we express love, innovation, community, and fellowship. Those among us who take the art of cooking and use it to extend our heritage, culture, and contribution to society are artisans just like Chef Jernard Wells.

Chef Jernard holds a special place in my heart. I have spent some of my most profound moments with this talented young chef at my kitchen table, where he shared not just his love of cooking but also his heart. As he whipped up some of his signature dishes, like Southern Sweet Tea Brined Fried Chicken accompanied by sauteed cabbage and turkey bacon, I would sit across the table admiring his passion for his craft and enjoying the stories of his journey. His incredible cooking style and flair for flavor take me back to my own rootsreminding me of the delicious veggies and spices plucked from my home-grown garden and crab legs sourced from the waters in my own backyard. I admire and respect his passion for taking whats old and making it new again while challenging us to embrace new food experiences like our ancestors of old. From his Chunky Buffalo Cauliflower Bites to Jackfruit and Rice-stuffed Pineapples, Chef Jernard is not afraid to merge ingredients and flavors to create a fusion of simple yet unique dishes that dazzle our taste buds. His effervescent personality and infectious smile also make him hard to ignore. His latest book, Southern Inspired, will introduce you to the stories and recipes I have grown to know and love about Chef Wells, and they will bring you back for more.

Jernard and I have bonded over great food - an excellent bridge to a great relationship. Ironically enough, it was as he was cooking up one of his great recipes that we discussed the idea of putting him in front of the Urban One audience. Now, Chef Jernard is a staple on cruises for our radio listeners and a popular figure on CLEO TVs New Soul Kitchen and New Soul Kitchen Remix.

I am incredibly proud of Chef Jernard for using his passion and gift for cooking as his vehicle to impact the world. I am grateful that he and his beautiful family have connected with me and mine, personally and professionally.

Chef Jernard, keep being great and always remember that humble beginnings start in the heart and will take you all around the world.

Cathy Hughes

Founder & Chair

Urban One, Inc.

(Radio One, TV One, Cleo TV, IOne Digital & Reach Media)