Ep 11. Collard Green Queen

In A Chef's Life season 1 episode 11, titled "Collard Green Queen," we follow chef and farmer Vivian Howard as she explores the role of collard greens in Southern cuisine.

The episode begins with Vivian heading to a local farmer's market to find the perfect collard greens for her restaurant, the Chef & the Farmer. She meets with a few different farmers, discussing the differences between collard varieties and why they're such an important vegetable in Southern cooking.

Back at the restaurant, Vivian decides to put collards on the menu for both lunch and dinner. She creates a collard green pesto that's served over pasta for lunch, and a collard green dip that's meant to be eaten with chips as a starter for dinner. She's excited to showcase the versatility of this underrated vegetable.

Throughout the episode, we also see Vivian interacting with her staff and reflecting on the challenges of running a restaurant. She's constantly juggling multiple tasks, from menu planning to dealing with staffing issues. However, she's also passionate about what she does and eager to share her love of Southern cuisine with her customers.

One of the highlights of "Collard Green Queen" is when Vivian visits the home of Miss Lillie Hardy, a local legend when it comes to collard greens. Miss Lillie has been cooking collards for over 70 years and is known in the community as the "Collard Green Queen." Vivian is thrilled to learn from her and even more thrilled when Miss Lillie agrees to visit the restaurant and give a cooking demonstration.

The rest of the episode centers around Vivian and her team preparing for Miss Lillie's visit. They want to showcase her collard green recipe on the menu, but they also know that it has to be just right. They experiment with different cooking methods and seasonings, hoping to get it perfect in time for Miss Lillie's arrival.

When Miss Lillie finally comes to the restaurant, there's a sense of excitement and anticipation in the air. The Chef & the Farmer is packed with customers eager to taste the "Collard Green Queen's" recipe. Miss Lillie talks about her love of collards and her passion for cooking, and then shares her recipe with Vivian and her team.

The moment of truth comes when the collards are served to the customers. Everyone holds their breath, waiting to see what Miss Lillie thinks. Luckily, she loves them and even says they're better than her own! It's a heartwarming moment that showcases the power of food to bring people together.

Overall, "Collard Green Queen" is a delightful episode that celebrates the importance of collard greens in Southern cooking. It's also a reminder that food is more than just sustenance – it's a way to connect with our community, our heritage, and our traditions.