Southern Babe

I was born in Alabama, but was mostly raised in a rural area west of Boston and later, Florida. As a child, I loved cooking from our garden with my Nanna, but decided I wanted to be a journalist “when I grew up,” so I studied Journalism at Boston College and graduated, cum laude, in 1987. After an early career in sales with Ziff Davis Publishing and subsequent marriage, my interest in cooking and food writing really took off. With good fortune and a dash of tempered bravery, I went off to Paris to study Cuisine and Pastry at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, France, ultimately graduating with Le Grande Diplome in 1992.

World Traveler

Life and subsequent travels took me many places, from New York, to Chicago, to rural France and to Jackson Hole, WY, working many jobs whether as an apprentice to Pierre Herme at Fauchon in Paris or conducting culinary tours throughout France. In 2000, I moved to Charleston, SC and finally began getting busy writing regular food and travel features and restaurant reviews for The Post and Courier, Charleston’s Daily Newspaper. Since then, I’ve garnered lots of writing awards, eaten lots of really good (and some bad) food, and written for many regional and national publications including Southern Living and Food and Wine.

Award Winning Cookbook Author

I have written four published cookbooks, The Southern Farmers Market Cookbook (Gibbs Smith, June, 2009), The Charleston Chef’s Table Cookbook – Extraordinary Recipes From the Heart of  the Old South (Three Forks Press, December, 2009), Tart Love – Sassy, Sweet and Savory (Gibbs Smith, October, 2011), followed by Food Lovers’ Guide to Charleston and Savannah (Globe Pequot Press, December 2011).

At Home in Charleston

I stay busy, but not so busy that I don’t appreciate all of my blessings and the places, people and things I love. I love Charleston, I love cooking, I love writing, I love playing tennis, I love my friends and family, and I love my dog, Tann Mann and cat, Chutney. A perfect day would begin with a long walk around beautiful Charleston with the dog and a long purr with the cat. Then, we’d start working in the kitchen to create a beautiful meal to share with a few close friends in the garden on one of Charleston’s lovely sunny days. Then, I’d spend a few hours reading a really good book, followed by a little nap and a brisk round of tennis. The topper would be dinner out at one of my favorite or new Charleston restaurants, to write about the following day.

This is actually the way I’m able to spend about half my days. Not a bad life! Thanks for visiting my page. Please feel free to return on a regular basis for updates.

Happy Cooking!

Holly