Ep 4. Cracklin' Kitchen

In "Cracklin' Kitchen," the fourth episode of season one of A Chef's Life, we join Vivian Howard as she explores the traditional North Carolina cooking technique of making cracklings. Despite the dish's humble origins as a way to use up leftover pig parts, Vivian explains that cracklings have become an important part of Southern cuisine, with many families growing up making the dish.

As Vivian prepares to make cracklings for the first time, she turns to her neighbors and local farmers for advice. She learns that using the right cut of pig is essential for getting the perfect cracklings, and that the process can be dangerous if not done correctly. With the help of a local butcher, Vivian is able to carefully prepare the pig skin so that it will fry up perfectly.

Once the cracklings are made, Vivian must figure out what to do with them. She decides to create a pork rind salad, which may sound unconventional but is actually a popular dish in some parts of the South. Vivian's pork rind salad combines the crispy, salty cracklings with fresh greens and a tangy vinaigrette dressing.

In addition to making cracklings, Vivian also spends some time exploring the history of her small town of Kinston. She takes a tour of the Kinston Music Park, where musicians from all over the South used to come to perform. As Vivian wanders through the deserted park, she can't help but feel nostalgic for a time when the town was thriving and full of life.

Throughout the episode, Vivian and her husband Ben also struggle with the ongoing challenges of running their restaurant, the Chef & the Farmer. With limited staff and a constantly changing menu, it can be difficult to keep up with the demanding pace of the business. However, Vivian remains passionate about bringing fresh, local ingredients to her customers and showcasing the flavors of the South.

Overall, "Cracklin' Kitchen" is a celebration of Southern food traditions and the hard work that goes into creating them. Vivian's journey to make cracklings from scratch highlights the importance of knowing where our food comes from and the value of preserving traditional cooking techniques.